NARROWING THE GAPS: IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR EVERY PUPIL

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NARROWING THE GAPSIMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR EVERY
PUPIL
BTEG Conference , 14 May 2008 Michael Stark
Deputy Director
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Narrowing the gaps

• Race equality and community cohesion duties
  (schools, LAs)
• Behaviour and exclusion
• School attainment is rising overall

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GCSE standards up
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Narrowing the gaps

• Race equality and community cohesion duties
  (schools, LAs)
• Behaviour and exclusion
• School attainment is rising overall
• Most gaps between pupil groups static or
  narrowing
• Most BME groups making more progress than White
  British children so gaps are narrowing
• Example Black African and Black Caribbean pupils
  getting 5 good GCSEs leapt up by 5 ppt this year

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BME groups improving gaps narrowing
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BME attainment over time
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Narrowing the gaps

• Race equality and community cohesion duties
  (schools, LAs)
• Behaviour and exclusion
• School attainment is rising overall
• Most gaps between pupil groups static or
  narrowing
• Most BME groups making more progress than White
  British children so gaps are narrowing
• Example Black African and Black Caribbean pupils
  getting 5 good GCSEs leapt up by 5 ppt this year
• Poverty and class stronger factors than ethnicity
• Aspiration a highly positive factor for most BME
  groups
• DCSF committed to monitor attainment by ethnicity
  alongside PSA 11 focus on poverty/deprivation.

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Some schools leading the way

• Bonus Pastor (Lewisham) - a majority population
  of Black pupils.
• The school is part of a group of ten Lewisham
  schools working together and aiming to close the
  gap for Black pupils in this years GCSE
  examinations. The programme is lead by a Head of
  Year who mentors a target group of twelve pupils.
  This programme is not just about these twelve
  pupils, though. The school learns from these
  pupils and, through and with them, interrogates
  its systems to ensure that it meets the needs of
  all its Black pupils. It has a strong emphasis
  on involving all curriculum areas and, also, has
  a key focus on parents. Unsurprisingly, standards
  have risen significantly and the pupils on the
  programme are now firmly on track to receive
  excellent results.
• The Academies programme launched in March 2000
  has benefited from increasing numbers of Black
  students over the years as the programme has
  expanded.

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Families of schools
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But it doesnt have to be this way primary

• West Rainton Primary, Durham
• 12 Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children on roll
• In top 5 nationally in value-added
• Key features
• High expectations for all pupils
• A focus on personalised learning
• Good analysis and use of data
• Strong partnerships with parents and carers

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What do good schools do?

• Focus on learning - the school effect
• Excellent personalised teaching and learning
• Good use of data
• Maximise the parents premium
• Engage well with parents and the community
• Tackle social factors
• Generate a culture of high aspirations
• Create a positive ethos and discipline
• Reduce barriers to learning

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Narrowing Gaps and BME

• Key issues

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Narrowing the gaps

• Race equality and community cohesion duties
  (schools, LAs)
• Behaviour and exclusion
• School attainment is rising overall
• Most gaps between pupil groups static or
  narrowing
• Most BME groups making more progress than White
  British children so gaps are narrowing
• Example Black African and Black Caribbean pupils
  getting 5 good GCSEs leapt up by 5 ppt this year
• Poverty and class stronger factors than ethnicity
• Aspiration a highly positive factor for most BME
  groups
• DCSF committed to monitor attainment by ethnicity
  alongside PSA 11 focus on poverty/deprivation.

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BME groups improving gaps narrowing
Proportion of pupils achieving 5 A-C grades
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Narrowing the gaps

• Race equality and community cohesion duties
  (schools, LAs)
• Behaviour and exclusion
• School attainment is rising overall
• Most gaps between pupil groups static or
  narrowing
• Most BME groups making more progress than White
  British children so gaps are narrowing
• Example Black African and Black Caribbean pupils
  getting 5 good GCSEs leapt up by 5 ppt this year
• Aspiration a highly positive factor for most BME
  groups
• Poverty and class stronger factors than ethnicity
• DCSF committed to monitor attainment by ethnicity
  alongside PSA 11 focus on poverty/deprivation.