MP, Labour’s Shadow
Secretary of State for Education, has commented on government
figures showing that inequality across the education system is
rising, with the most vulnerable children the worst affected, as
the Secretary of State for Education prepares to make his first
speech on social mobility.
The attainment gap between children in care and their peers has
been rising in Key Stage One since 2010. In maths the attainment
gap has risen from 23 percent to 29, an increase of over a
quarter. In reading the gap has grown from 23 percent to 25, and
in writing from 27 to 29.
The proportion of care leavers who are not in education,
employment, or training (“NEET”) has also risen substantially
since 2010. In 2010 32 percent of care leavers were NEETs, but by
2017 this has increased to 40 percent, a rise of a quarter since
2010.
Wider inequality has also increased, with the Department for
Education’s own statistics showing that the inequality gap in
achieving a level 2 qualification by 19 has risen since 2013. In
2013 the gap stood at 16.3 percent, but by 2017 it had risen to
20.1 percent, another increase of around a quarter.
The figures showing the stark and rising inequality between the
most vulnerable children and their peers are revealed as
, the Education Secretary,
prepares to make his first speech on social mobility.
Commenting, MP, Labour’s Shadow
Secretary of State for Education, said:
“These damning figures show that under this government inequality
in our schools is rising; despite all their rhetoric on social
mobility the Tories are simply entrenching inequality.
“The measure of our education system should be the support that
it offers to the most vulnerable children, and the steps we take
to level the playing field between them and their more affluent
peers. Quite simply, the Conservatives are failing this test.
“The next Labour government will invest in a National Education
Service, giving every child the support they need and the
opportunity to succeed, in a country for the many, not the few.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
Attainment Gap for Children in Care
· Department for Education statistics show that the attainment
gap between looked after and non-looked after children has grown
since 2010.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/outcomes-for-children-looked-after-by-las-31-march-2017
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/outcomes-for-children-looked-after-by-local-authorities-in-england-31-march-2011
· In 2012 said it is “supremely
irrelevant” talking to children in care about grammar schools if
they have had a difficult time in the school system.
“Children in care have a particularly difficult time in the
school system, and relatively poor levels of educational
attainment. Talking about grammar schools to that group is
supremely irrelevant, but for a relatively small group, grammar
schools, selective education, assisted places and so on are
relevant. Those children are in the stars to shine category.”
, Hansard, 28 June 2012,
https://hansard.digiminster.com/Commons/2012-06-28/debates/12062866000001/SocialMobility#contribution-12062866000008
· Announcing a £50 million investment into the expansion of
grammar schools, claimed it would give children
of all backgrounds access to a world-class education.
“By creating new schools where they are needed most and helping
all great schools to grow, we can give parents greater choice in
looking at schools that are right for their family – and give
children of all backgrounds access to a world-class education.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/drive-to-create-more-good-school-places-for-families
· Government statistics show that inequality gap in the
achievement of a level 2 qualification by the age of 19 has grown
3.8 per cent since 2013.
Local authority interactive tool (LAIT)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authority-interactive-tool-lait?utm_source=70c1149a-5ca8-4956-b9b4-6d32eca6a0f5&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate
· Level 2 qualifications are GCSEs at grade A*-C / 9-4, and level
3 qualifications include A-Levels
https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
· Inequality gap for those achieving a level three qualification
has grown by almost 1 per cent since 2013, standing at 25.20 per
cent in 2017.
· Government statistics show that the number of care leavers who
are not in education or employment increased by 8 per cent since
2010.
Local authority interactive tool (LAIT)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authority-interactive-tool-lait?utm_source=70c1149a-5ca8-4956-b9b4-6d32eca6a0f5&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate
· In December of last year and the other commissioners of
the Social Mobility Commission resigned en masse at the lack of
progress being made by the government. In his resignation Milburn
said that “I have little hope of the current government making
the progress I believe is necessary to bring about a fairer
Britain […] It seems unable to commit to the future of the
commission as an independent body or to give due priority to the
social mobility challenge facing our nation.”
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/dec/02/theresa-may-crisis-mass-walkout-social-policy-alan-milburn
