The government will on Monday unveil proposals to halve the attainment gap between the poorest pupils in England and their better-off peers, amid a schools white paper that includes changes to how schools receive disadvantage funding.
The white paper proposes overhauling the criteria for disadvantage payments, which are currently allocated based on the number of pupils eligible for free school meals – generally for families with an annual income below £7,400. Labour wants to broaden this to give greater weight to family income, likely shifting funding away from the annual pupil premium.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson called the reforms a “golden opportunity” to break the link between background and success, while critics warned that reshuffling a fixed pot of money could create regional inequalities. Munira Wilson, Liberal Democrat education spokesperson, said the changes risked “hard-wiring regional inequalities” and called for the pupil premium to be restored to its 2015 real-terms value.
The white paper also outlines plans for two new programmes – Mission North East and Mission Coastal – inspired by the London Challenge, aimed at improving performance in deprived areas. Additionally, the government plans a radical overhaul of the special educational needs (Send) system, including individual support plans for every child, though some Labour MPs are concerned about parents’ appeal rights.
