Margaret Hodge, minister for children, said the findings of a research team from the universities of Newcastle, Manchester and Brighton vindicated Government policy. She called for the establishment of more extended schools and said, 'This research confirms that schools providing extended services are a valuable practical resource for children, parents and the local community.
'Making the school the focus of a wide range of activity also has the knock-on benefit of improved pupil behaviour, attendance and educational achievement.'
Mrs Hodge spoke at a conference on extended schools last week that examined the experience of the 25 pathfinder projects which have been running for the past year and launched the 61 full-service extended schools recently announced by the DfES.
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