New study finds poorer pupils in Suffolk are less likely to get into top-performing state schools
More than 150 secondary schools in England are said to be more "socially selective" than the average grammar school
Poorer pupils in Suffolk and beyond are less likely to get into top-performing state schools compared to their peers even if there's one locally, according to new a study.
More than 150 secondary schools in England are said to be more "socially selective" than the average grammar school, according to research by the charity, Sutton Trust.
The study looked at the top 500 secondary schools in England by the Attainment 8 measure - which assesses the achievement of a pupil across eight subjects at GCSE.
It found, on average, these top comprehensive schools took 40% fewer pupils eligible for free school meals than the average comprehensive school.
"They have basically disappeared from some schools"
Scott Lyons is a former teacher and works for the National Education Union in the East.
He says the county faces unique problems:
"We've got hidden poverty in the countryside and on the coast. There's many examples of families being financially unable to move, so that constraints them. It's why the NEU wants to see a good school in every community.
"The issues around school trips are massive. They have basically disappeared from some schools because they can no longer subsidise them, when parents are asked to make voluntary contributions."
"You're going to get less people going onto higher education"
He told us how the NEU's working to close the gap: "We're trying to look at some of the home-schooling opportunities, that may be an option to help with this.
"In reality, some of the more middle-class parents might be able to take up that option. This might free up the more disadvantaged pupils to get better access to resources.
"If nothing happens, you're going to get less people going onto higher education and less provision for apprenticeships.
"If we don't get it right in the school as early as we can, we'll just be passing it along. If disadvantaged students can't access good education, what chance do they have?"
The wider findings:
The research suggested that around a third of this gap is down to the schools being located in more affluent areas, but two-thirds represent "some form of social selection within that area".
These top comprehensive schools have 30% fewer pupils eligible for FSM than live in their catchment areas, according to the Sutton Trust.
This could be down to a "complex mixture of factors" - including schools' complicated admissions policies, parental decision-making and degrees of parental agency, it added.
The research found that levels of social selection differed across England, with the lowest number of top schools concentrated in some parts of the country with the highest FSM rates.
Faith schools are also more likely to be "socially selective" than the non-religious top comprehensive schools, according to the report.
The research concluded: "This report finds little evidence to suggest that comprehensive schools are becoming less socially selective, strong evidence that things have not improved since 2017 and some clear evidence pointing to increasing levels of social selection in comprehensive admissions in some parts of the system."
The Sutton Trust are calling on the Government to review admissions code policies to ensure children eligible for the pupil premium - which is funding for state schools to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils - are included in a school's oversubscription priority criteria.
"We need to urgently address this problem"
Sir Peter Lampl, founder of the Sutton Trust, said: "The levels of social segregation across the school system are unacceptable.
"The poorest parts of the country are hit by a double whammy of having the fewest top comprehensive schools, which are also the most socially selective. This is deeply concerning."
"We need to urgently address this problem to create a more balanced system and raise the quality of all schools.
"The Government should review the school admissions code to ensure all state schools take a mix of pupils which reflects their local community and provide disadvantaged pupils with a fair chance to access top-performing schools."
The Sutton Trust has also called on the Government to include an assessment of fair access in Ofsted inspections and to address financial barriers such as transport and uniform costs.
What's the Government had to say?
The Government says they're providing nearly £3 billion to schools to support disadvantaged pupils.