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Schools

This type of school is a more-ambitious form of community college and links-into New Labour concerns about social exclusion. The intention, as part of the five year strategy, seems to be that, eventually, all schools will operate in an extended style.

The basic idea is that extended schools will become the centre of local communities, providing not just schooling but also things like healthcare, social services and, in some instances, police services. In other words, such schools would offer welfare services as part of their overall educational remit.

Such schools would have extended opening hours (currently 8am - 6pm) to reflect their new community role. Both primary and secondary extended schools would offer childcare help to working parents and families, mainly through schemes like breakfast clubs (where children can be dropped-off at a school before the start of the official school day) and after-school clubs offering a range of extra-curricular activities.