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Teachers demand clarity over definition of 'coasting schools'

The Department for Education's 'coasting schools' policy targets 'requiring improvement' schools, but Nicky Morgan says it will also be about student progress and whether young people 'reach their potential', sparking calls for more clarity

Teachers and school leaders are calling for clarity over the government's plans to intervene in so-called "coasting" schools.

At the very least, they want to have a clearer definition of what the term "coasting" actually means.

They have also warned the government that its discourse so far about the new policy is not a "helpful way of finding a solution" to often-complex problems.

It came as, over the weekend, education secretary Nicky Morgan revealed details of the policy – which was part of the Conservative election manifesto – to the media.

The manifesto document stated that "any school judged by Ofsted to be requiring improvement will be taken over by the best headteachers – backed by expert sponsors or high-performing neighbouring schools – unless it can demonstrate that it has a plan to improve rapidly."

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