Evaluation of the City Challenge programme

A research paper (DFE-RR215) by Merryn Hutchings, Sumi Hollingworth, Ayo Mansaray and Anthea Rose with Sarah Minty and Katie Glass(Institute for Policy Studies in Education, London Metropolitan University) and Charley Greenwood (Evaluation and Research Practice, Coffey International Development)

Summary

City Challenge was launched in April 2008 by the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) building on the success of the London Challenge 2003-8. It was designed to improve educational outcomes for young people and ‘to crack the associated cycle of disadvantage and underachievement in the Black Country, Greater Manchester and London’.

This report sets out the findings of a mixed methods evaluation of the City Challenge programme in London, Greater Manchester and the Black Country, and a retrospective review of the London Challenge 2003-8. The evaluation was led by the Institute for Policy Studies in Education, London Metropolitan University with funding from the Department between August 2010 and February 2012.

Includes:

• Executive summary
• Introduction
• Evaluation design
• Attainment and Ofsted outcomes in City Challenge areas
• Reducing the number of under-performing schools: Keys to Success and Pathways to Achievement
• Programmes to raise standards in coasting and satisfactory schools
• Improving Good and Outstanding schools
• Improving educational outcomes for disadvantaged groups
• Families of Schools
• Working with Local Authorities
• Summary and implications for future school improvement initiatives
• References

Downloads
Full report (PDF 114pp)
Report appendices (PDF 57pp)

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