In its recent report, State of the nation 2018/19: social mobility in Great Britain, the Social Mobility Commission highlights the widening gaps in achievement and prosperity at every stage, from early years to working life. This is a valuable report which highlights some of the potential pitfalls in education policy.
The commission's findings make for sobering reading. For example, for the year 1 phonics test, 70 per cent of children entitled to free school meals (FSM) achieved the expected attainment level for their age in 2018, while 84 per cent of their more economically advantaged classmates achieved that benchmark.
However, by the end of Key Stage 4 (age 16), the gap has doubled, with only 40 per cent of children on FSM achieving "good" GCSEs in English and maths, compared to 68 per cent of all other pupils.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
