Room for Improvement: IPPR's response to the schools white paper
Article
The government proposes to make substantial changes to how teachers are trained and recruited; to reform school funding to channel more resources towards the poorest pupils; to introduce a new 'English Baccalaureate' to be awarded to pupils who attain A*-C GCSEs in English, maths, science, a humanity and a modern language; and to initiate a wide-ranging reform of the national curriculum.
This paper focuses specifically on how the measures outlined in the white paper address the attainment gap that exists between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and children from wealthier families. This is a deeply entrenched problem which has scarred the English schools system for far too long. The impact of these reforms on the life chances of the most socially disadvantaged children is a litmus test of the Coalition government's claim to be a progressive administration committed to tackling social injustice.
Related items
Mission-driven industrial relations: The case for fair pay agreements
How fair pay agreements could support the government’s mission-based approach by resolving labour market challenges.Women in Scotland: the gendered impact of care on financial stability and well-being
Women in Scotland are far likelier than men to take on childcare and other caring responsibilities, which puts them at an economic disadvantage.ÂCitizenship: A race to the bottom?
The ability to move from temporary immigration status to settlement, and ultimately to citizenship, is the cornerstone of a fair and functional immigration system.