Find out about the approaches one school is using to successfully raise girls achievement levels at KS3, particularly for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Paignton Community and Sports College is a huge school with over 1800 pupils. Based in Torbay which has some areas of severe deprivation. Consequently the school has a very mixed population of pupils both academically and socially. They have had particular success at KS3 with girls on free school meals where results have consistently improved over the past four year thanks to a series of measures introduced to raise achievement throughout the school. They have seen a rise of 21% in girls taking free school meals attaining level 5+, 33% higher than the national average. Principal Jane English thinks raising girls self-esteem is one of the most important factors and believes that the range of support initiatives in place at the school contribute to this aim. This programme highlights five of these initiatives.

Video Series: Narrowing the Gap
Release Date 2008