TWO Felixstowe schools are set for around �200,000 extra funding in a new project to help them push their students further to get better results.

Richard Cornwell

TWO Felixstowe schools are set for around �200,000 extra funding in a new project to help them push their students further to get better results.

Deben and Orwell high schools will get up to �50,000 each for the next two years as part of a government scheme to improve standards.

Gaining Ground aims to help schools classed as satisfactory by Ofsted inspectors but which could do more to stretch pupils.

Peter Tomkins, head at Orwell High, said: “In the four years between now and the two schools joining together into the new Felixstowe High School the Gaining Ground funding will help us to ensure that all the students through our doors come out with the highest levels of academic success possible.

“It is essential that we continue relentlessly to drive up standards of achievement.”

Deben head Rob Cawley added: “We are committed to our vision of raising aspirations for all students in Felixstowe through creating learning and teaching environments that provide the best possible opportunities for a successful future for each and every student.

“We believe that the objectives of Gaining Ground status will push us further and faster towards the goal of achieving outstanding secondary education in the town.”

Patricia O'Brien, portfolio holder for children, schools and young people's services at Suffolk County Council, said the scheme was open to schools that had the capacity to improve their GCSE results at a faster rate than they are.

“The money will be used to develop improvement work underway in the schools and provide extra materials and support for students,” she said.

A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families, added: “These schools are not 'failing' schools - they will have acceptable, or sometimes even good results, but may not be fulfilling the potential of their pupils.

“Sometimes they may not be stretching their most able pupils, or perhaps not meeting the needs of their pupils who face difficulties.”

Benjamin Britten High in Lowestoft, Newmarket College and Sudbury Upper will also receive similar funding.

How are Deben and Orwell doing? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.