A headteacher has spoken of progress being made under expert advisers after it was revealed his Lowestoft school is being helped by a government team.It was announced this week that government advisors have been sent to Denes High School, in Yarmouth Road, and two other schools in Suffolk to give 'intense support' and 'accelerate progress' as part of the National Challenge initiative.

A headteacher has spoken of progress being made under expert advisers after it was revealed his Lowestoft school is being helped by a government team.

It was announced this week that government advisors have been sent to Denes High School, in Yarmouth Road, and two other schools in Suffolk to give 'intense support' and 'accelerate progress' as part of the National Challenge initiative.

Yesterday, headteacher Mick Lincoln spoke of the progress being made through the scheme.

'We have had advisers working with us since January of this year. We are looking at ways to help students achieve more highly with five or more A*-C grades, including English and maths,' he said.

'We are confident that we will make progress this year and in terms of the monitoring and tracking we have done so far, we think things are progressing really well.'

As part of the scheme, government advisers are being sent to help schools ensure that at least 30pc of its pupils achieve five A*-C grades at GCSE, including English and maths, by 2011.

This summer, 27pc of students at Denes High School achieved five A*-C grades, including English and maths, with 48pc achieving the level with any subjects.

Other schools in Suffolk to receive help are Holywells High School and Chantry High School and Sixth Form College, both in Ipswich.

Suffolk County Council is one of three areas to request government help from the scheme, with advisers also sent into schools in Leeds and Kent.

Simon White, director of Children and Young People's Services at the council, said he was concerned about the three schools in Suffolk but confident they would be turned around.

Mr White said: 'We are working very hard with the schools to improve performance, and all of them have got plans which should develop performance to the minimum standard of 30pc next year.

'With the expert adviser coming in we will make sure that we are doing all that we can to make that happen. That should provide reassurance to parents.'