Pupils from poorer areas at disadvantage

GCSE 2008

CHILDREN from the poorest homes in Oldham are less likely to achieve good results in their GCSEs compared with those from deprived backgrounds in London, new research has shown.

The league from the campaign group End Child Poverty, shows huge differences in the GCSE attainment of the poorest students in different education authorities across England.

According to the research last year, 18 per cent of students who receive free school meals in Oldham get five A*-C grades at GCSE including English and maths — lagging behind the England average of 21 per cent.

Of the top 10 areas where children receive free school meals and achieve the grades, nine authorities were in London. Rutland in Northamptonshire, was ranked 10th.

Jason Strelitz, spokesman for Save the Children and a member of End Child Poverty, called for more investment to end the post code lottery.

He said: “This shows that there is no excuse for failing the poorest students.

“In areas like London, where national government has invested in improving education for the poorest, they have succeeded.

“In other areas the GCSE attainment of the poorest students remains alarmingly low.”

Hilary Fisher, director of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, added: “This is further proof of the difference that investment makes to a disadvantaged child’s education.

“It is unacceptable that children have the odds stacked against them simply by default of having poorer parents.

“The Government must put its money where its mouth is and end child poverty so that all children, no matter their background, have equal chances to achieve a decent education.”

The league table was released as part of End Child Poverty’s Keep the Promise Campaign, aimed at holding the Government to its promise of halving child poverty by 2010 and ending it by 2020.