Commenting on the report from the NFER warning that recent and
planned changes to free school meals eligibility will make
tracking the progress of disadvantaged students ‘almost
impossible’, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association
of School and College Leaders, said:
“While this report is seemingly about arcane data processes,
there is a really important issue here. We have to be able to
track the progress of disadvantaged youngsters so that we are
able to put in place the right support.
“Through the law of unintended consequences, the changes in free
school meal eligibility will skew the figures so that we won’t be
able to tell if the attainment gap between these pupils and other
children is improving or not. Added to this is the stark impact
of the pandemic in increasing the number of families in poverty.
“Being able to track the progress of disadvantaged youngsters is
a key element in boosting social justice, and the government’s
oft-repeated phrase ‘levelling up’. Therefore, there really does
need to be a fresh look at how we keep track of disadvantage in
the education system, backed with sufficient support through the
pupil premium.
“The government must recognise the flaws that the NFER has
identified and undertake an urgent review of free school meals
eligibility and the pupil premium grant to ensure disadvantage
among children and young people is correctly identified and there
is sufficient funding to meet the needs of this rapidly-expanding
group.”
