David Laws at SCHOOLS NorthEast Summit: ‘Success of schools less well known in North East’
SCHOOLS in the North East do well to close the disadvantage gap but this is relatively unknown in the rest of the country, according to the Rt Hon David Laws, Executive Chairman of the Education Policy Institute.
The former Schools Minister spoke to a packed crowd at the SCHOOLS NorthEast Summit today, held at St James’ Park, Newcastle and explained that, compared to other regions such as inner London and the South, North East successes are less well known.
David Laws, Executive Chairman of the Education Policy Institute (EPI) said: “To have achieved so much with so many economic issues in the past decade is something to be extremely proud about.”
However, research from the EPI suggests that in the North East, the narrowing of disadvantage gaps is more prevalent in primary and early years, compared to secondary level.
Mr Laws continued: “While we’re doing well in narrowing the gap in primary and early years, it is in secondaries where we have these problems.
“Collectively in England, schools have narrowed the gap between the advantaged and disadvantaged massively in the past decade, by 22% at the end of Early Years, 23% at Primary and 14% at Secondary.
“However, schools with large amounts of disadvantaged pupils did better to close the gap than those with a lower amount of disadvantaged pupils.”
Speaking at the 10th Anniversary Summit, David Laws told the assembled school leaders that in the North East, performance is very good in primaries, but “doesn’t translate well into secondary education”.
“This is prevalent in rural areas and Northumberland particularly, as the disadvantage gap in primaries at the end of Key Stage 2 is only 9 months, whereas in secondaries, at the end of Key Stage 4, it is 25 months.”
In figures published by the Education Policy Institute, the North East as a region has the largest gap in the country of schools serving lower income households with children staying in post-16 education.
However, according to calculations by the Institute, the National Funding Formula in the North East will boost funding by 3% which totals £44 million across the region although this won’t, according to David Laws, offset wider pressures.
Mr Laws continued: “Having made the issue of disadvantage gaps a priority, both for the Government and ourselves as educators, we have made it a success.
“If we don’t continue it’ll stall or go backwards. The Secretary of State, Justine Greening, is committed to these policies that keep giving money to disadvantaged children.
“In the North East, there has been great progress made in closing the gap and great progress made in attainment. The region has much to build on proudly over years to come.
“There is a lot done, but there is still a lot to do.”
Read the full EPI report here.