Schools that are content to muddle along without trying hard to improve will be targeted by Ofsted as a result of changes in assessment processes.

The current processes classify schools with flat-lining poor results as satisfactory. It is argued that this perpetuates a complacent attitude that says things are OK just as they are. It is claimed that abolishing that label and replacing it with a new one: ‘requires improvement’ will drive improvement.

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The government has saved £100m in the first nine months of the financial year by introducing strict property controls and getting a better grip on the property estate.

The savings are from the national property controls, which include a requirement for Cabinet Office approval for all new leases and property acquisitions, and surplus buildings being examined for sub-letting or sale. Space is also used more effectively – for example, Cabinet Office staff led the way by moving into the Treasury building earlier this year, which was the first major example of co-location in Whitehall.

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