Lib Dems Top of the Class on Education

12.00.00am GMT Mon 1st Feb 2010

Next week's meeting of Sheffield City Council is set to welcome the news that education standards in Sheffield are being turned around by the Liberal Democrat administration. Reducing the gap between Sheffield and the national average on pupil exam results was a key pledge of the Lib Dems when they came to power in May 2008. 2009 saw Sheffield closing the gap with the biggest improvement in GCSE results ever.

Overall the rate of improvement in the city is 4 percent - higher for the first time in years than the national average of less than 3 percent. The results are a clear sign that Sheffield is firmly on track to close the gap with the national average.

In addition Sheffield's primary school results in Key Stage Two bucked the national trend by showing an improvement in combined English and Maths results;

Cllr Andrew Sangar, Liberal Democrat Cabinet member for Young Peoples Services, said "Under Labour Sheffield lagged behind the rest of the country when it came to education. But thanks to action by the Liberal Democrats that is beginning to change. I'm delighted that our policies have brought about the biggest improvement in GCSE results that Sheffield has ever seen."

Lib Dems launched Sheffield's first Raising Attainment and Aspiration Strategy, which aims to drive up young people's achievements. They also began a programme of recruiting excellent head teachers from around the country and introduced the best leadership development programmes for heads that the city has ever seen.

Andrew added "Of course it is the children and young people themselves who are the real heroes in this story. I'm confident that the combined hard work from Sheffield's youngsters and further action at the Town Hall can ensure Sheffield not only catches up with the national average, but exceeds it."