The Department for Education has today announced a major expansion of its flagship RISE (Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence) programme, now supporting more than 200 schools and reaching over 120,000 children across England.
Originally piloted in 32 schools, the RISE programme aims to drive up educational standards in schools rated below “Good” by Ofsted. Backed by £20 million in funding, the initiative is a key part of the government’s Plan for Change to ensure every child receives a high-quality education—regardless of background or location.
Each eligible school may receive up to £100,000 in targeted support. The team of expert RISE advisers has now tripled in size, growing from 20 to 65 experienced leaders, many from high-performing academy trusts.
There are over 600 ‘stuck’ schools—those with consecutive poor Ofsted judgements—impacting more than 300,000 pupils. RISE advisers have already begun pairing these schools with successful multi-academy trusts, including the Mulberry Schools Trust and Northern Education Trust, to support rapid improvement.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “No child should spend years in an underperforming school. RISE teams bring the expertise and focus needed to transform life chances across the country.”
In addition to supporting individual schools, RISE will also offer a universal service—signposting best practices and encouraging collaboration across all schools, with a national focus on attainment, attendance, inclusion, and reception year quality.
To strengthen its sector engagement, the Department for Education is also establishing a RISE operational stakeholder group to help guide delivery and ensure the programme reflects the needs of schools and communities.