Commenting on a report from an All-Party Parliamentary Group on
social mobility, published today, Dr Mary Bousted,
Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union,
said:
"This report rightly blames the Government's austerity agenda,
including cuts to support services and children's centres, for
limiting the educational potential of disadvantaged young
people.
“If the Government is serious about social mobility, it needs to
properly fund good quality early years education, rather than
focus on providing childcare to enable parents to work.
"Schools must be adequately funded and there should be structures
that foster collaboration rather than competition between them.
We also need a high quality and fair inspection system which
acknowledges the good work done by schools in challenging
circumstances and offers constructive advice on ways to improve.
Schools in disadvantaged areas find it hard at present to hire
teachers and head teachers because of the threat of a negative
Ofsted grade.
"Lastly, this Government must put a stop to austerity. Children
should not be going to school hungry and without adequate
clothing, and teachers should be able to teach rather than solve
the problems of structural poverty caused by recent Governments."
