Child poverty charity welcomes proposals for extra funding for disadvantaged pupils

Commenting on the publication today of the report ‘Tackling Educational Inequality’ by Lib Dem linked think-tank Centre Forum, Child Poverty Action Group’s Chief Executive, Kate Green, said:

“We strongly welcome the approach taken by Centre Forum, which recognises the need to tackle the inequality of school pupils at source. The proposal for extra schools funding to be delivered to the most disadvantaged through a ‘Pupil Premium’ is an important step in the right direction.

“Funding models that give schools extra resources according to individual pupils’ needs are essential in the fight to end child poverty, but not enough on their own. Income inequality must be addressed too, or the poorest pupils will continue to come through the school gates with more barriers to learning than a pupil premium alone can fully compensate for. We hope that Liberal Democrat party members will not only endorse the ‘pupil premium’ proposal, but will support the extra investment of £4 billion that the Institute for Fiscal Studies says is needed to meet the Government’s target of halving child poverty by 2010.”

Notes to Editors

• CPAG is a member of the Campaign to End Child Poverty

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