All posts tagged: attainment

Smaller schools escape low attainment crackdown

Smaller schools escape low attainment crackdown

Published by skeptic

More from this theme Recent articles More than a thousand schools with poor outcomes slipped through the net of the government’s RISE low-attainment crackdown, exposing a “significant gap” in its latest bid to boost results. The Department for Education (DfE) approached thousands of schools in England with the worst attainment rates, urging them to seek support from the government’s regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) programme’s universal arm. But hundreds more escaped the glare of officials because they were too small, Schools Week can reveal, despite registering some of the poorest outcomes in the country.  Reacting to the revelation, National Governance Association deputy CEO Sam Henson said: “Over a thousand schools appearing to fall through the cracks isn’t a data technicality – it’s a significant gap in the programme. “Schools and boards that need support shouldn’t miss out simply because of their size.” Hundreds slip net On Friday, Tim Coulson, head of the DfE’s regions group, wrote to responsible bodies for the 2,092 schools in the lowest 25 per cent for outcomes at key …

London free school meals expansion hasn’t boosted attainment

London free school meals expansion hasn’t boosted attainment

Published by skeptic

But researchers warn short-term effects ‘difficult to detect’ as families report positive impacts on finances and stress But researchers warn short-term effects ‘difficult to detect’ as families report positive impacts on finances and stress More from this theme Recent articles The Mayor of London’s universal primary free school meals scheme did not improve pupil attainment in its first year, but made a positive difference to family finances and stress levels, an impact report has found. The interim report from the Education Endowment Foundation on Sadiq Khan’s offer of free school meals (FSM) to all primary school aged children in London looked at the first 10 months of the scheme. The policy was first introduced in February 2023 to support families through the cost of living crisis. It now uses up around a third of the mayor’s total annual budget each year. Researchers surveyed headteachers and parents, conducted interviews with parents and observed school lunch times in 14 locations across London. It found there was around 90 per cent uptake among newly eligible children. The policy …