Commenting on a new report by the National Foundation For
Educational Research (NFER) warning that changes to free school
meals (FSM) eligibility will make tracking progress of
disadvantaged pupils ‘almost impossible’, Paul Whiteman, general
secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:
“It is both clear and deeply concerning that Covid-19 has led to
a sharp increase in the number of families living in poverty. As
this report shows, many of the children and young people who have
become eligible during recent years are disproportionately drawn
from more disadvantaged areas and are those who already needed
additional support from schools. It’s quite right that these
pupils attract additional funding so that schools have the
resources they need to meet their needs, even though this will
make comparison – and therefore tracking progress – harder.
“The erosion in the value of pupil premium funding for
disadvantaged pupils highlighted in this report is another major
concern. Despite recent announcements, it is clear that this
funding will be less in real terms than it was in 2015 on a per
pupil basis. This, coupled with the government’s decision to
divert funding away from schools serving more disadvantaged
communities, raises serious questions about its commitment to
levelling-up and providing support for the pupils and families
that need it the most.”
