Project that boosted school results is shut as funding stops

A scheme that has boosted results in London's schools for the past eight years is to close.

The London Challenge programme has helped schools in its region improve faster than those elsewhere in the country, according to an Ofsted report being published tomorrow.

But the Department for Education is withdrawing funding in March.

Ofsted chief inspector Christine Gilbert said: "It is vital lessons learned from this programme are applied."

London Challenge, launched in 2003, saw education experts go into underperforming schools to identify what help was needed, and improve teaching.

The Ofsted report says 30 per cent of London secondary schools are now "outstanding" compared with 17.5 per cent nationally. Only 2.4 per cent are "inadequate" compared with 4.1 per cent across England.

The proportion of London pupils gaining five or more GCSEs rose by 10 per cent in the first four years of the scheme, to 60 per cent.

Another result, says Ofsted, is that schools started working together and teachers developed a "moral purpose" to close attainment gaps.

The project was rolled out across the country in 2008, with £200 million funding over three years.

Ms Gilbert said: "I am delighted to pay tribute to London Challenge. Results in London have moved from below to above the national average. I would have concerns if there were not sufficient resources to encourage schools to work with each other."

The Department for Education said it was always intended that the scheme should end in March: "We will be supporting underperforming schools. There will be more details about the next steps in due course."