‘Urgent steps’ needed to avoid disadvantaged pupils missing out, report says

According to the committee of MPs, there consistency of funding and support is lacking and a ‘better understanding’ is needed to close the gap between rich and poor pupils. The committee, which exist to evaluate the sectors of public spending, said that there were early signs that pupil premium funding was making a positive difference.

However, it warned that a ’step change’, in increasing efforts was a highly necessary in order to prevent poorer pupils from losing out academically.

Meg Hiller, chair of the committee, insists that closing the ‘attainment gap’ for disadvantaged pupils should be “a cornerstone of education policy” and that a failure to close the attainment gap would continue to “pass down through generations”.

She said: “There needs to be a better understanding of why disadvantaged pupils from different backgrounds can perform so differently.”

The report demonstrates areas where underachievement appears to me more deeply entrenched, particularly in deprived costal areas. In contrast, the study suggests that Chinese pupils achieve high levels of attainment ‘irrespective of their level of disadvantage’.

Between 2011-15, pupil premium funding has provided £6 billion worth of support for disadvantaged pupils.

The Public Account Committee, highlighted where differences in school funding resulted in “some schools receive about £3,000 a year more than others per disadvantaged pupil". In addition, it said it was “very concerned” that the rollout of universal credit did not contain a clear mechanism for identifying children who were eligible for the pupil premium.

Christine Blower, head of the National Union of Teachers, said: "in many cases pupil premium funding has been used to plug gaps that have occurred as a result of squeezed budgets".

In contrast, Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Assocation of School and College Leaders (ASCL), maintains that pupil premium funding is making a positive difference, but that there is still more to be achieved.

He said: “Nevertheless, it remains clear to everybody that much more still needs to be done on this critical issue and the highest ambition of school leaders is to close the disadvantage gap further”.

A Department for Education spokesman said: "It is encouraging that this report recognises the extent to which the government has been able to narrow the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.

"We are determined to ensure every child, regardless of background, is given an education which allows them to realise their full potential, and we are committed to do more to tackle educational inequality."

Read more