Amanda Martin MP has welcome government plans – set out in a new schools white paper – to chart a path to halving the gap between outcomes for poorer children and their peers, alongside generational reform to the SEND system.
The disadvantage gap is as stark today as it was over a decade ago in 2014, with less than half of children eligible for free school meals achieving a pass grade or higher in their maths and English GCSEs, compared to over 70% of children who do not receive free school meals.
• Labour’s schools white paper sets ambitious target to raise standards and halve the disadvantage gap to give children best start in life
• Radical reform to school funding to raise outcomes for poorer children
This too often leads to those young people falling out of education, employment or training, not getting the chance to get on in life. This is not the sign of a system delivering high standards, but one that is sidelining too many children.
To tackle these stubborn gaps, the government will radically reform the way funding is given to schools – using household income to better target disadvantage funding and ensure it delivers the greatest impact on children’s outcomes.
This comes alongside plans to recruit 6,500 more expert teachers across secondary schools and colleges, with over 2,000 more already in post and delivering for children, with new joiners in crucial subjects like maths and science.
Building on the revolutionary impact of the London Challenge in the early 2000s, which helped transform educational outcomes across the capital two new area-based challenges: Mission North East and Mission Coastal will test and learn what works to drive-up outcomes in different communities.
The schemes will bring together schools, parents and communities to develop innovative strategies that will deliver sustained improvement and provide a blueprint for change nationally.
Amanda Martin MP for Portsmouth North said: “Labour’s plan for schools will drive up outcomes for children and young people across Portsmouth. By tackling the gap in outcomes between children on free school meals and their peers, we will ensure more children gain the knowledge and skills they need to achieve their ambitions and go on to gain good jobs and live fulfilling adult lives.”