Regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE)
Updated 6 February 2026
Applies to England
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Regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) aims to break the link between young people’s backgrounds and their future success.
Every school is a RISE school, whether through universal resources that connect them with best practice and peer support, or targeted help for schools facing particular challenges.
At the core of RISE are the RISE advisers, who are educational experts with direct experience of improving schools. RISE advisers work as part of a wider RISE team within the Department for Education (DfE).
RISE teams will operate at 2 levels:
- through Universal RISE – empowering all schools to grow and share great practice
- providing bespoke targeted interventions to schools with the greatest barriers to improvement
For the Universal RISE service, RISE teams will work across all schools to:
- signpost effective practice
- encourage peer-to-peer support
- bring schools together to share knowledge and innovation
For Targeted RISE intervention, RISE advisers will engage with the eligible school and its responsible body to consider the school’s specific improvement needs.
Where appropriate, RISE teams will arrange for a high-quality organisation to work with a school to support improvement. RISE teams will be able to draw on funds to support this activity. RISE teams are regularly reviewing progress and engagement with the targeted intervention.
Funding
DfE has made an initial £20 million investment in RISE teams and support. RISE teams will prioritise supporting stuck schools that are eligible for targeted intervention.
Universal service national priorities
The RISE universal service will deliver 4 national priorities focused on driving higher standards.
The national priorities are:
- attainment, with a focus on English and maths
- inclusive mainstream
- reception-year quality
- attendance
Eligibility for targeted intervention
Eligibility for targeted RISE intervention is determined through Ofsted inspections. Further details on eligibility and the circumstances in which a school may receive targeted RISE intervention are outlined in the support and intervention in schools guidance.
Schools may gain or lose eligibility as they are inspected. The current list is based on published Ofsted management information and is correct as of 31 December 2025.
Contact
If you have any questions about RISE, eligibility or its impact on your school or area, contact your regional director’s office.
Find out more about RISE school support