‘Wake-up call’ for PM as GCSE gap between poor and rich pupils widens
Written by News on 30/07/2019
Poorer teenagers are 18 months behind their wealthier peers in their GCSEs, according to a new report.
The GCSE attainment gap widened between 2017 and 2018 – and the divide is largest and growing fastest in parts of northern England.
According to researchers from the Education Policy Institute, disadvantaged pupils were 9.2 months behind their richer classmates by the end of primary school.
By the time children were sitting to take their GCSEs, poorer students were 18.1 months behind in terms of average attainment in English and maths.
For all GCSE subjects, the figure remained unchanged from 2017 at 18.4 months.
The most persistently disadvantaged students – those eligible for free school meals for at least 80% of their time in school – are almost two years (22.6 months) behind their peers by the time they leave secondary school.
Progress in tackling the divide has declined for the first time since 2011 – and researchers have warned it could take more than 500 years to close the gap if the recent five-year trend continues.
David Laws, the chairman of the Education Policy Institute, described the findings as a “major setback” for social mobility.
The former Liberal Democrat schools minister added: “Educational inequality on this scale is bad for both social mobility and economic productivity.
“This report should be a wake-up call for our new prime minister.”
Responding to the report, the government said the gap had “narrowed considerably” in recent years.
School standards Minister Nick Gibb said: “We are investing £2.4bn this year alone through the Pupil Premium to help the most disadvantaged children.
“Teachers and school leaders are helping to drive up standards right across the country, with 85% of children now in good or outstanding schools compared to just 66% in 2010, but there is more to do to continue to attract and retain talented individuals in our classrooms.”
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT union, added: “Schools and colleges need an immediate multibillion-pound emergency investment, alongside a long-term commitment to sufficient education funding, and proper investment in health, social care, the police and the other services that schools and families rely on.
“Without this, any promises of a brighter future for our country will fail.”
(c) Sky News 2019: ‘Wake-up call’ for PM as GCSE gap between poor and rich pupils widens
