£16,000 price tag for ‘free’ education disadvantages poorest children

Commenting on the ‘School Sums Index’ compiled by Norwich Union, which has found it now costs nearly £16,000 to put a child through school from 5 to 16 years old, the Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action group, Kate Green, said:

“Education in state schools has never been truly free, but the costs are getting out of hand and well beyond the budgets of the poorest families.

“School meals, uniforms, equipment and school trips all add up and those who can’t afford it are excluded from activities that enhance learning and improve outcomes. The Government must focus on bringing these costs down by extending free school meals and taking a hard line on schools that do not follow best practice on charging parents for extra costs like school trips.

“Pupils at the top may be doing better and better, but the poorest children are still struggling to leave school with the qualifications and skills they need. We will not close the attainment gap unless we end the economic and social divide between children. Ending child poverty must now become the UK’s top education policy.”

Notes for editors

• CPAG has recently launched the 2 Skint 4 School campaign focussed on the links between child poverty and failure to reach full potential at school. For me information, see the campaign website: www.cpag.org.uk/2skint4school
• CPAG is the leading charity campaigning for the abolition of child poverty in the UK and for a better deal for low-income families and children.
• CPAG is one of over 130 member organisations of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, campaigning for public and political commitment to ensure the goals of halving child poverty by 2010 and ending child poverty by 2020 are met.

For further information please contact:
Tim Nichols
CPAG Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302
tnichols@cpag.org.uk