A number of recommendations have been made by a Buckingham County Council select committee to help narrow the achievement gap for disadvantaged children.
The Education, Skills and Children’s Services Select Committee, have produced a report after reviewing what is being done across Buckinghamshire to help narrow the gap in attainment between disadvantaged children and their peers. Their report and recommendations will be discussed at the Council’s Cabinet on 24 March.
Although Buckinghamshire has some of the best schools in the country and is academically one of the highest performing local authorities, it also has one of the widest attainment gaps between some of the most deprived children and their peers.
In total 12 recommendations have been made, including establishing Learning Development Centres to offer learning opportunities for economically disadvantaged families; and development of online toolkits for schools to help them identify educational programmes for their pupils who are most in need, and practical tools to help schools evaluate the impact of their narrowing the gap projects.
Val Letheren, Committee Chairman, said:
This has been a very wide-ranging and in-depth inquiry during which we have witnessed some very good practices already being carried out in Buckinghamshire schools. Central themes in our report proposals are widening and strengthening this existing good practice through robust early years education and ensuring that Pupil Premium grants are being used to the best effect and focused on the pupils who need help most to improve their academic achievements.
To view the report in full visit http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/about-your-council/scrutiny/education,-skills-childrens-services/narrowing-the-gap-inquiry/
