Michael Gove: Our reforms are working, schools have significantly improved As the tables show, more schools are exceeding our new, tougher floor standards - defined as less than 40 per cent of pupils achieving at least five C grades at GCSE, including English and maths, and falling behind on progress measures. 154 secondary schools are now below the floor - down from 195 schools last year and, if the same higher standards had been in place, 407 secondary schools in 2010. 154 schools below the floor is still 154 schools too many. That is why we have a plan to deal with failing schools - by bringing in the support of an academy sponsor with a strong track record. The tables show our academies programme is working. The proportion of pupils achieving at least five good GCSEs including English and maths rose by 2.3 percentage points in sponsored academies, compared to 1.8 percentage points across local authority schools. Sponsored academies are continuing to improve more quickly than schools controlled by local authorities. Crucially, we are also seeing more children choosing to study the rigorous subjects most highly valued by employers and universities - those included in our English Baccalaureate. The EBacc measures how many pupils achieve at least a C in GCSE English, maths, the sciences, a language and either history or geography. In 2012, only 16 per cent of pupils in state-funded schools achieved at least a C grade in each of these vital subjects - while 120 secondary schools across the country did not have even one pupil taking the EBacc. One year on, the figures have significantly improved. 72,000 more young people are now entering the EBacc - an increase of almost 60 per cent on last year. As a result, thousands more pupils are now studying physics, chemistry, history and languages - the subjects that will help them get the jobs of the future. There are still real causes for concern. So although the overall picture provides encouraging evidence that our plan is working, we cannot let up. There is no doubt in my mind we can do it. We have the best-ever generation of young teachers in classrooms today, led by the best ever generation of head teachers. With their help, we can ensure all our children have a secure and prosperous future. Michael Gove is the Secretary of State for Education