Education, Inequality and Poverty: the 2 skint 4 school campaign

CPAG has launched a new campaign "2 skint 4 school" focusing on the relationship between education, inequality and poverty. We will be campaigning on:

• what schools can do to ensure better educational outcomes for poor children
• the action government must take to address social and economic inequalities that prevent children realising their educational potential.

The Prejudice of Poverty

The education system widens the gap between comfortably off and poor children – more should be done to close it, argues Kate Green in The Teacher, December 2007. Read the article online at http://www.nut.org.uk/theteacher/cover_pics/050_teacher_dec07w.pdf

Teachers TV
Closing the Gap

During 'Closing the Gap' week Teachers TV took a look at various initiatives set up by schools and communities to close the attainment gap between groups of pupils. They also explored what can be done on a national level to ensure equal opportunities for all. View a summary of the programmes (101KB Word document) and download them for free.

Adding up: The range and impact of school costs on families

The Government has a commitment to ending child poverty and improving educational attainment. For the vast majority of children, securing a decent education is a critical factor in determining success in adult life. Yet for a whole host of reasons, children from low income families are less likely to flourish at school. Research has found that for these children, their experiences of school can be divisive and contribute to exclusion.

In 2005 Citizens Advice, children’s charities, including CPAG, and the National Union of Teachers formed a coalition to continue to highlight the broader costs associated with attending school.

This briefing looks at:

• School uniform; the merits of school uniform, cost and affordability, supply arrangements, and what help is available.
• School trips; cost and affordability, voluntary contributions, and budgeting.
• Other costs associated with schooling such as text books and lesson materials.
• The impact of cost on parents; concerns about bullying and discipline, distress, worry and effect on choice of school.
• Good practice by schools.

Download Adding up: The range and impact of school costs on families (560 KB PDF file)

Briefing: Chicken and Egg: child poverty and education inequalities

Child poverty and unequal educational opportunities are inextricably linked. Children’s educational prospects reflect the disadvantages of their families. Those who are poor, whose parents have low qualifications and no or low-status jobs, who live in inadequate housing and in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, are less likely to gain good qualifications themselves at school. This briefing highlights the extent of the poverty gap in education and shows how the "chicken and egg" cycle of deprivation is perpetuated.

• Download Chicken and egg: child poverty and educational inequalities (263 KB PDF file)
  
  
• School years increase education attainment gap for poorest children (press release 12 September 2007)

School Costs Coalition: the cost of a free education

Even with an ostensibly 'free' education system, families still face significant costs around school meals, uniforms and some activities. These costs place serious strain on family budgets, particularly at points of transition, such as going to, or changing schools. Not being able to afford these may leave children facing stigma and bullying. CPAG, along with eight other organisations co-ordinated by Citizens Advice, has formed the School Costs Coalition to call for action to reduce the impact this has on families.

• 3 out of 4 parents find school costs difficult to meet, says Citizens Advice (press release 29 August 2007) [67 KB Word file]
• Adding up: The range and impact of school costs on families [560 KB pdf file]
  
• Read The cost of a free education campaign briefing [266 KB pdf file]
• The Costs of Education: a local study (CPAG publication, August 2003)
  

CPAG briefings and consultation responses

Response to the schools admissions code consultation – December 2006 (51 KB pdf file)

Inquiry into Schools White Paper Higher Standards, Better Schools for All: CPAG response – November 2005 (201 KB Word file)

Free Nursery Education Places for 3 and 4 Year Olds: CPAG consultation response – September 2005 (185 KB pdf file)

Choice for Parents, the Best Start for Children: a ten year strategy for childcare: CPAG response – March 2005 (1313 KB Word file)