‘Shameful’ inequality in education system

Speaking ahead of GCSE results day on 23 August, the Labour Party has highlighted sharp inequalities between students at schools in the most and least deprived areas in England.

Analysis of Ofsted data by the party has found that students at schools in the poorest areas in England are nine times more likely to be in a school rated as inadequate and half as likely to be in an outstanding school, compared to those in the wealthiest areas.

In fact, only two per cent of students in the wealthiest areas of the country are in schools that are rated inadequate. But, perhaps of more concern, Labour’s analysis also found that the gap between the rich and the poor grows considerably starker at a regional level.

Seven regions fall below the national average of 19 per cent of students in the most deprived areas attending schools rated outstanding, with the South Wests standing out as not having a single student in a deprived area attending a school rated as outstanding. Equally, students in the least deprived areas in the South East are 37 times more likely to go to an outstanding school, compared to students in deprived areas.

The Fair Education Alliance reported last year that Britain’s poorest children are more than a year behind their wealthier peers by the time they sit their GCSEs.

Angela Rayner, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Education, said: “No child should be held back from reaching their potential because of their background. While the Tories have gifted tax cuts to big businesses, per pupil funding has been cut in real terms. It is the most vulnerable children paying the price for the resulting crisis in our education system. The next Labour government will invest in a National Education Service, giving our schools the funding they need to raise standards and improve outcomes, so every child gets the education they deserve, regardless of their background.”