Commenting on the report by the Education Policy Institute
(EPI) ‘Access to high performing schools in
England’, published today, Dr Mary Bousted, joint general
secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“All young people should have access to good schools. However, we
must question the EPI’s use of the term ‘high performing’.
Teachers work tirelessly and with dedication in all schools.
‘High performing’ schools do not necessarily reflect genuine
outcomes for learners, but are often the result of playing the
game according to the rules set by Ofsted. Sending young people
to a ‘high performing’ school cannot, on its own, ensure social
mobility and, as research tells us, life chances are determined
by socio-economic background. The Government must ensure social
justice through addressing child poverty, rather than assuming
that schools can, on their own, fix the problems arising from
inequality from birth.
“The potential for social mobility is also negatively impacted by
the effects of recent governments’ education reforms, including
the narrowing of a more academic curriculum, assessment,
performance measures, and the lack of funding for good quality
careers advice and guidance. If the Government is serious about
social mobility for young people it should ensure that education
is properly funded, with professional staff who are not
overburdened by excessive workload.”
