Moves to bridge city’s attainment gap

EVERY COMMUNITY faces challenges within social mobility, education leaders in York have warned, as measures are taken to bridge the attainment gap.

There are about 3,000 children and young people in the city classed as disadvantaged, official figures show, eligible for free school meals or who have been within the last six years.

Challenges here are echoed in every community, Maxine Squire, assistant director for education and skills said, as City of York Council works to combat the issue and create a fair start for all. “This is a feature of every single town and city,” she said.

“It’s as much a feature of rural communities as it is of urban. It’s really important as a nation that we embrace the fact that not all children have the same advantages.

“We live in a First-World economy, but we have some communities that don’t do as well as others. It makes a difference to outcomes for everybody.”

Ms Squire’s comments come after education leaders gathered in the city for a conference to explore how best to support the most disadvantaged children and young people. The conference brought together headteachers, education professionals and childcare workers to share best practice and ideas aimed at reducing the attainment gap.

“We’ve been trying to ensure that we have a secure evidence base to better understand why some children find it difficult to achieve within the education system, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds,” she said. “Education is critical to giving children and young people choice.

“If their attainment is below their peers, their choices are impacted. It makes a difference, to the jobs they will one day get and where and how they will live.”