Fresh Start programme#South Africa

The Fresh Start programme was first proposed in the Labour manifesto for the 1997 general election. Schools deemed to be failing would be given a "fresh start", reopening with new names and leadership. Some would also fall under the control of successful schools located nearby. This was expanded by the newly elected Labour government's 1997 education white paper Excellence in Schools. The white paper cited the successful "fresh start" of Phoenix High School (previously Hammersmith School), which was failing until the appointment of William Atkinson as headteacher in 1995. Atkinson and the school's local education authority renovated the school's site and introduced a new uniform, name and administration.{{Cite book |url=http://www.educationengland.org.uk/documents/wp1997/excellence-in-schools.html#03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628025554/http://www.educationengland.org.uk/documents/wp1997/excellence-in-schools.html#03 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 June 2013 |title=Excellence in Schools |date=July 1997 |publisher=Stationery Office |isbn=978-0-10-136812-4 |page=30 |department=Department for Education and Employment}} The first three Fresh Start schools reopened in September 1998; this number raised to ten by May 2000.{{Cite web |date=2000-05-08 |title=Fresh Start school will be closed for good |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/fresh-start-school-will-be-closed-for-good-258716.html |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=The Independent |language=en}}

As an alternative to a "fresh start", the programme has enabled education secretaries and local authorities, via the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, to close failing schools (their students moving to good schools close by) or merge them with another school.{{Cite book |last=Gearon |first=Liam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ibuNAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA11 |title=Education in the United Kingdom: Structures and Organisation |date=2013-10-18 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-12546-3 |page=11 |language=en}} Some Fresh Start schools have been established from mergers.{{Cite web |title=The Gateway Community College - GOV.UK |url=https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/134112#school-dashboard |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk |language=en}} Another alternative is a "collaborative restart", where a failing school reopens with strong links to another school nearby.{{Cite web |title=Closing a Maintained Mainstream School. A Guide for Local Authorities and Governing Bodies |url=https://councilportal.cumbria.gov.uk/Data/Cabinet/20090407/Agenda/(item%208)%20Appendix%20A%20Closing%20a%20maintained%20mainstream%20school.pdf |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=Department for Children, Schools and Families |page=3}}

Under the New Labour governments over 51 Fresh Start schools were created, of which 23 schools were primary, 27 secondary and one special.{{Cite CiteSeerX |last=Boyle |first=Alan |title=Compassionate Intervention: Helping Failing Schools to Turn Around |page=18 |citeseerx=10.1.1.528.9612}}{{Cite web |date=2006-10-17 |title=Dealing with deep rooted failure |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmpubacc/956/95608.htm |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=parliament.uk}} More have been created since then, such as Corelli College, which was given a fresh start as The Halley Academy in 2018.{{Cite web |last=Downs |first=Janet |date=2018-06-02 |title=£1.5m paid on transfer of academy in Greenwich. And it won't appear in DfE accounts. |url=https://www.localschoolsnetwork.org.uk/2018/06/15m-paid-on-transfer-of-academy-in-greenwich-and-it-wont-appear-in-dfe-accounts |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=Local Schools Network |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Corelli College - GOV.UK |url=https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/137473 |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=get-information-schools.service.gov.uk |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=The Halley Academy - GOV.UK |url=https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/145315#school-dashboard |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=get-information-schools.service.gov.uk |language=en}} To qualify for a fresh start, a school originally needed below 15% of its students to pass five GCSE exams for three years in a row.{{Cite web |last=Woodward |first=Will |date=2003-08-18 |title=Retreat over threat to close schools |url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/aug/18/gcses2003.alevels2003 |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=The Guardian |language=en}} This was raised to 30% by 2006.{{Cite book |last= |first= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aQXB3Y1ZHQQC&pg=PA59 |title=Improving Poorly Performing Schools in England: Department for Education and Skills |date=2006-01-11 |publisher=Stationery Office |isbn=978-0-10-293663-6 |page=59 |language=en |department=National Audit Office}} Typically, the school must also be in special measures or require improvement. Fresh Start schools are expected to improve within a year of reopening and are rigorously scrutinised by inspectors until they attain acceptable standards.{{Cite book |last=Bennett |first=Hazel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JjnRQMMJibsC&pg=PA217 |title=The Ultimate Teachers' Handbook: What They Never Told You at Teacher Training College |date=2005-11-21 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=978-0-8264-8500-7 |page=217 |language=en}}

The first three Fresh Start schools reopened in September 1998, the first of which was Blakelaw Comprehensive which reopened as Firfield Community School. The government invested £1.5 million into the school and appointed new leadership. More schools received a fresh start the next year,{{Cite web |last1=Carvel |first1=John |last2=Mulholland |first2=Helene |date=2000-03-15 |title=Third superhead quits fresh start school |url=http://www.theguardian.com/education/2000/mar/15/schools.news1 |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=The Guardian |language=en}} including George Orwell School which reopened as Arts and Media School, Islington.{{Cite web |date=1999-10-21 |title=Failing school gets fresh start |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/481668.stm |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=BBC News}} The school's new headteacher Torsten Friedag earned an exceptional salary of £70,000 and was named Britain's first "super head".{{Cite web |date=2022-11-09 |title=First 'super head' appointed |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/210953.stm |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=BBC News}} Super heads became a feature of the Fresh Start programme.{{Cite book |last1=Williams |first1=Dr James |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u6P-eILAZ4IC&pg=PA24 |title=Professional Leadership in Schools: Effective Middle Management and Subject Leadership |last2=Williams |first2=James |date=2013-04-15 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-98637-8 |page=24 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last1=Bourdillon |first1=Hilary |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HoS6IPcBKiIC&pg=PA278 |title=Aspects of Teaching and Learning in Secondary Schools: Perspectives on Practice |last2=Storey |first2=Anne |date=2013-07-04 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-41605-7 |page=278 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Webb |first=Rosemary |title=Changing Teaching and Learning in the Primary School |publisher=Open University Press |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-335-21950-6 |location=Berkshire, England |page=12}}

After the resignation of three Fresh Start super heads in March 2000, Education Secretary David Blunkett began contemplating changes to the programme. Scepticism around the programme began to grow after the third super head was found to have resigned because of a failed attempt to hide a critical letter from her school. The letter criticised the school's expulsion and truancy rates and bad behaviour and morale.{{Cite web |date=2000-03-16 |title=Bottom of the class, Time to improve |url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/5164084.voice-of-the-argus/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=The Argus |language=en}} Blunkett warned that "the alternative to Fresh Start is closure."{{Cite web |date=2000-03-15 |title=Ex-superhead backs academies |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/678385.stm |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=BBC News}} At the same time, he announced the city academies programme. The programme would improve failing schools in inner cities and was originally seen as an extension of Fresh Start,{{Cite web |date=2000-03-15 |title=Anger at scheme for failing schools |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/677996.stm |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=BBC News}} being introduced as a "radical relaunch" of the programme.{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Mike |author-link=Mike Baker (journalist) |date=2000-03-15 |title=City academy, US-style |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/678793.stm |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=BBC News}} City academies were supported by Torsten Friedag, one of the Fresh Start super heads who resigned. City academies were later renamed as academies and became independent from Fresh Start.

In April{{Cite web |date=2000-04-21 |title=Fresh Start school in new threat of closure |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7137991.fresh-start-school-new-threat-closure/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=The Northern Echo |language=en}} and June 2000{{Cite web |last=Smithers |first=Rebecca |date=2000-06-29 |title=Ofsted tells second 'fresh start' school it is a failure |url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/jun/29/education.schools |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=The Guardian |language=en}} two Fresh Start schools, including Firfield Community School, began failing. Firfield had experienced a deficit of £200,000 due to low student numbers and had suffered from a loss of reputation and morale after a Channel 4 documentary exposed failures within the school. Plans for Firfield's closure were announced by Newcastle City Council and a consultation process with parents began. The council also considered merging the school with another nearby. Over £2.5 million was invested into Firfield in what became an "embarrassment" for David Blunkett. It was later revealed that only two out of 16 Fresh Start schools had improved. The Conservative Party and its shadow education secretary Theresa May criticised the programme as failing. Blunkett admitted to dissatisfaction with some headteacher appointments in the programme and directed the Department for Education and Employment to take further control of the programme, introducing a two-year grant of £400,000 to its schools as a result.

By December 2000 the fourth super head had resigned and another Fresh Start school was set for closure. David Blunkett and his schools minister Estelle Morris began disfavouring the programme; Morris began pushing local authorities to close failing schools instead of giving them a fresh start and Blunkett began restricting the programme's extent. Fresh starts have thereafter been reserved for situations where "closure is not an option" and improvements are likely to be made.

Fresh Start schools have been proposed in the United States by the Republican Party as part of its bid for school choice. Like British Fresh Start schools, these schools would replace failing schools and may fall under the control of a successful school nearby, benefiting from extra funds amounting to $2000 per pupil. Failing schools would have three years to improve before possibly being given a forced fresh start or may alternatively volunteer for a fresh start. The policy has already been implemented in parts of Minnesota,{{Cite web |last=Mott |first=Ron |date=2006-08-24 |title=A 'Fresh Start' for Memphis schools |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna9068363 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129223907/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna9068363 |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 November 2020 |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=NBC News |language=en}} Tennessee{{Cite web |last=Hawkins |first=Beth |date=2011-01-04 |title=In education circles, Dayton's choice of Cassellius greeted with optimism, skepticism |url=https://www.minnpost.com/learning-curve/2011/01/education-circles-daytons-choice-cassellius-greeted-optimism-skepticism/ |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2009-05-27 |title=MNEA Agrees to Teacher Bonuses in 'Fresh Start' Schools |url=https://wpln.org/post/mnea-agrees-to-teacher-bonuses-in-fresh-start-schools/ |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=WPLN News |language=en-US}} and Illinois{{cite speech |title=21st Century Schools for a 21st Century Economy |first=Barack|last=Obama|author-link=Barack Obama |location=Chicago, Illinois |date=2006-03-13}}{{Cite news |date=June 2008 |title=VOL. 92, NO. 8 |page=8 |work=American Teacher |url=https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/at_mayjune08_classnotes.pdf |access-date=2022-02-04}} and has been put forward for approval in Arizona as part of a bill that focuses on school improvement.{{Cite web |last=Gomez |first=Gloria |date=2022-03-04 |title=A 'punitive model' for failing schools: GOP proposal would let charters take over district schools |url=https://www.azmirror.com/2022/03/04/a-punitive-model-for-failing-schools-gop-proposal-would-let-charters-take-over-district-schools/ |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=Arizona Mirror |language=en-US}}

The National Association of Charter School Authorizers have adopted the policy under the name Start Fresh, in response to the growing movement for school improvement that was enabled by the No Child Left Behind Act.{{Cite web |title=Starting Fresh in Low-Performing Schools |url=https://pmanna.people.wm.edu/research/Manna2007StartingFreshEmpoweringTeachers.pdf |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=National Association of Charter School Authorizers}}

The Fresh Start Schools Programme (FSSP){{Cite web |title=Driving positive change in Mpumalanga education |url=https://nect.org.za/in-the-media/nect-news/driving-positive-change-in-mpumalanga-education |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=National Education Collaboration Trust |language=en-us}} was launched by the National Education Collaboration Trust in 2015. Schools participating in the programme were given extra equipment and had their sites renovated. The programme was delivered through the Trust's District Intervention Programme, which aims to boost curricular provision and coordination between schools and their districts and local communities. 409 schools are part of the programme.{{Cite web |date=2015-06-23 |title=Fresh Start School Programme improves day-to-day lives of learners |url=https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/498/130397.html |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=Bizcommunity |language=en}}

• Academy (English school)
• Education in England
• Education in Wales

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Category:Education policy in the United Kingdom

Category:School types

Category:United Kingdom educational programs