Troubled school goes Montessori

The DfES is providing £40,000 to help introduce Montessori teaching methods at a Manchester primary school in a unique experiment in one of Britain's most deprived inner city areas. The grant, which has been matched by the Montessori St Nicholas charity, is aimed at improving pupil attainment at the 350-pupil Gorton Mount Primary School in the Foundation Stage and at Key Stages 1 and 2. Until recently, the school was in 'special measures'. It had had seven headteachers in six years and a poor discipline record, and only 18 per cent of pupils could read at the level expected.