Julie McCulloch, director of policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, responded to research from the Education Policy Institute
The research revealed the biggest increase in the disadvantage gap on record. Julie McCulloch said, “This comprehensive report illustrates the deep-rooted inequalities within the English education system and our society as a whole.
“The impact of the pandemic has been particularly keenly felt by children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, who were less likely to have access to the devices and quiet spaces that aid remote learning. Schools do everything they possibly can to help these pupils, and staff often go above and beyond to support the most vulnerable. But the issue of social and economic inequality is not new, and nor can it be solved by schools and colleges alone. Significant investment is required to close the disadvantage gap and create a system without such a close alignment between family income and educational attainment.
“We echo the calls for increased funding for disadvantaged students. The pupil premium should be reformed to include 16–19-year-olds and be weighted in favour of those in persistent poverty. Another important step to take is develop a fairer accountability system that does not actively discourage teachers and leaders from working in schools serving disadvantaged communities.
“The government must urgently address the underfunding of post-16 education, which has resulted in a reduction in student support services at a time when they’re most needed, and placed schools and colleges in an incredibly difficult position. But above all, far more must be done to tackle the fundamental causes of child poverty and ensure all pupils are able to arrive at school in a fit state to learn.”
Be the first to comment