(BBC News) ‘Tough decisions’ on weak schools

Children’s Secretary Ed Balls wants rapid action to improve 50 struggling secondary schools in England.

He is writing to local authorities to express concern at a lack of action.

These are part of the group of 270 National Challenge schools in which fewer than 30% of pupils achieve five good GCSEs including English and maths.

Mr Balls says he expects local authorities to show they can “take tough decisions to do what is right to drive up standards”.

“I am concerned that some local authorities are not making proper use of the powers already available to them, for instance using the power to issue warning notices,” says Mr Balls.

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