Posted on 4/11/2015 by Dan Grace

Tougher primary tests and top teachers in weak schools

Article taken from the BBC website.

Nicky Morgan said it was "tacit snobbery" to restrict pupils from taking core academic subjects

Primary school pupils in England could face formal tests at the age of seven - and a pool of "elite teachers" will be recruited for struggling schools.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has announced a package of measures aimed at tackling underachievement.

There will be a target requiring 90% of pupils to take core academic subjects at GCSE.

Head teachers' leaders warned a teacher shortage in some subjects made that target "immensely challenging".

Mrs Morgan said more "robust and rigorous" checks on progress at the age of seven would help ensure that all pupils had "mastered the basics" before they left primary school.

Recruiting teachers

At present, she said, there are 20 local authorities where most pupils do not achieve five good GCSEs, including English and maths.

The education secretary wants to target areas with low achievement, such as coastal towns and some northern cities.

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To read the article in full click on URL http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-34700911