A scheme to raise pupils' achievement has been launched, after a successful bid for £3m of Government cash, writes Madeleine Pennell.

Sixteen schools in Blackbird Leys, Barton, Littlemore and Rose Hill are to become an education action zone.

The Government initiative aims to raise the results of pupils' performances in National Curriculum tests and GCSEs, to the national average.

The city's action zone, called the Hamilton Oxford Schools Partnership, is a collaboration between the schools, Oxford-based education charity, the Hamilton Trust and the county council. The action zone will receive £1m a year for three years.

Of this money, £750,000 a year will come from the Department for Education and Employment and the trust is contributing £250,000.

Pupils from the 16 schools met Oxford's Lord Mayor Val Smith in her parlour to launch the scheme.

Better opportunities for pupils and more support for families to help their children learn, are other aims of the scheme.

Schools in the zone will take part in new numeracy and literacy programmes involving parents. The much-needed extra cash will pay for more special-needs teachers, classroom assistants, educational social workers, educational psychiatrists, staff training and development and buying computers which teachers will be able to use at home.

The zone will last for three years and could be extended by a further two years.

Gloria Walker, project director said: "The young people will have the opportunity to do a wide range of activities and experiences that schools would not normally be able to offer within their existing budgets such as drama and trips to art galleries."

She said the partnership would bid for Lottery funding for breakfast and after-school clubs.

Story date: Monday 06 December

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