'Teach first' graduates to help gifted pupils from state schools aim for university

PRNewswire-GNN London 30 January

London, 30 January /PRNewswire-GNN/ --

DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES News Release (2008/0021)
issued by The Government News Network on 30 January 2008
- £15m Funding Over Three Years To Raise Aspirations Of Young People -

Schools Minister Andrew Adonis today announced new plans to help 'gifted
and talented' pupils apply successfully for the most sought after university
places.

The scheme is part of a £15million package to raise the aspirations and
attainment of gifted pupils from state schools in London, the Black Country
and Greater Manchester as part of the City Challenges.  The scheme will
be piloted through the London Challenge programme from this month and will
involve 'Teach First Advocates'. It will then be rolled out to other regions.

The Teach First Advocates - who are themselves outstanding graduates either
teaching in challenging schools or who are now working in business and other
sectors - will mentor disadvantaged gifted students and their families so
they are equipped and supported to apply successfully to the right courses at
the most demanding universities.  Teach First teachers will also work with
their peers to help them raise expectations of gifted and talented learners
and improve their advice to pupils about the right university for them.

Schools Minister Andrew Adonis said:

"This programme will help gifted and talented young people in state schools
gain the confidence and skills they need to apply successfully to our most
competitive universities.

"Teach First graduates are already exceptional individuals who are well
equipped to become advocates of higher education, providing structured
support and information to bright young people who may not recognise the
value of a university education because of their family background.

"This programme is designed to raise their aspirations and help them
secure admission to the most demanding higher education courses and the
most competitive universities. We are determined to break the link between
deprivation and underachievement which prevents many young people from
securing places at university."

Minister for Lifelong Learners, Further and Higher Education, Bill Rammell
said:

"This is very welcome news. The government is committed to unlocking the
talents and potential of all our young people, ensuring that a university
education is an option for everyone. There are many ways to do this, but
former students are the best advocates for higher education, so activities
involving them are especially effective.

"There is talent and potential out there and if it is not being properly
identified or nurtured at an early enough stage it is in danger of being
unfulfilled. Teach First Advocates create a real opportunity to put that
right."

This gifted and talented initiative is part of the City Challenge strategy
to narrow attainment gaps between disadvantaged learners and their peers.
Over the next three years the wider City Challenge programme will help to
raise the attainment and aspirations of pupils in some of the country's most
challenging areas.  The programme builds on the success already achieved in
London, where the number of pupils achieving 5 or more good GCSE passes has
risen by over 20 percentage points to 60.9% in ten years.
London Challenge will be extended from April for a further three years to
2011 and similar programmes will be launched in two new regions, Greater
Manchester and the Black Country, making up a £160 million investment package
aimed at raising standards. Today's announcement brings additional funding
on top of the £160 million announced last year and shows one of the ways
the money will be used.

The funding will be targeted at pupils in secondary schools and post 16
education that are identified as gifted and talented and disadvantaged,
measured through eligibility for free school meals.  It will involve extending
and strengthening partnerships between schools, post-16 and higher education.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. £5m per year will be shared between the three City Challenge regions based
on pupil and school numbers and free school meal eligibility.  £2m per year
will come from money already pledged for City Challenge; the remaining £3m
is additional DCSF funding.

2. Teach First is a registered charity (charity number 1098294) which
selects, trains, places and supports top graduates to work in challenged
schools in London, Greater Manchester and the Midlands for two years after
university. Beyond the two years, all Teach First Ambassadors (alumni)
commit to addressing educational disadvantage through the leadership they
achieve both within and outiside the education sector.

3. The London Challenge was set up in 2003 as a five-year programme to turn
around London's major school problems, including high teacher turnover,
pupil mobility and underachieving secondary schools. It is a partnership
between central government, local government, schools and other education
stakeholders, and is led by the Minister for London Schools, Andrew Adonis. Sir
Mike Tomlinson is the Chief Adviser for London Schools.

4. The Greater Manchester Challenge is lead by Beverley Hughes, the Minister
for Children, Young People and Families and the Black Country Challenge is
led by Schools Minister Jim Knight.

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