Extra lessons made compulsory at failing academy

Extra lessons have been introduced at a struggling school to try to boost results.

GCSE students at Westminster Academy, which is on the government hitlist of failing secondaries, are being given more than six additional hours' tuition a week.

The day used to end at 3.30pm. Now pupils must stay until at least 4.45pm, five days a week. Voluntary lessons continue to 7pm. Headteacher Smita Bora said she extended the curriculum for year-11 pupils after the Government decided to drop SATs, freeing English, maths and science teachers.

The latest league tables show only one in five students at the school achieves a good pass in five or more GCSE subjects including English and maths. If this does not reach 30 per cent by 2011 ministers intend to close it and reopen it under new management.

Ms Bora said staff and students welcomed the classes. She pointed out that almost 90 per cent of students did not have English as a first language.