ASCL comment on Sutton Trust report

Commenting on the Sutton Trust report ‘Potential for Success’, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:

“We need to do more as a society to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve their potential. Many schools are doing a superb job every day to give these young people the start in life they deserve. 

“But these students can face very difficult challenges beyond the school gates and often live in communities which have been drained of hope by decades of insecure and poorly paid work. Schools in these areas also face the toughest systemic challenges, particularly in terms of recruiting teachers and leaders.

“We need a joined-up approach with social and economic policies which restore hope to these communities alongside more support for their schools. We are not, however, convinced that any of this will be driven by further changes to accountability measures.”