Plan to link top schools with tertiary sector

The government's Pounds 350 million "action plan" for struggling inner-city comprehensive schools will include measures to link the best "beacon schools" with local colleges and universities to give gifted students new opportunities. A dozen universities will be asked to set up summer schools for 16 to 17-year-olds. The government also proposes to give undergraduates work experience in schools to improve vocational skills and tempt more into teaching, education secretary David Blunkett told the education sub-committee this week.