Tackling the persistent disadvantage gap

~ Bruce Levitan

A new report by Education Policy Institute (EPI) sets out a fresh approach to school funding that would target greater support towards persistently disadvantaged pupils. This group, who have been eligible for free school meals for 80 per cent or more of their time in school, are significantly behind their peers in educational attainment but this is not currently recognised by the school funding system.

Recommendations:

  • Prioritise targeted funding for persistently disadvantaged pupils;
  • Invest £640 million a year in targeted funding;
  • The recommended additions of £308 for each persistently disadvantaged primary pupil and £255 for each persistently disadvantaged secondary pupil are relatively modest in scale;
  • Clear and transparent funding.

You can download and read the full report here.