Half of schools in England's poorest areas 'are failing' - Tories » Education » 24dash.com

More than half of all secondary schools in the poorest areas of England are officially classed as failing, it was claimed today.

Government figures obtained by the Tories show 55% of schools in the most deprived areas of the country did not achieve 30% of their pupils getting five GCSEs at A*-C including English and maths.

The Government wants to see all secondary schools in England achieve the 30% target by 2011.

Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove said the figures highlighted the Government's "failure" to close the gap between rich and poor pupils.

The data, obtained from parliamentary questions asked by Mr Gove, showed that in 2007, of the 259 schools in the most deprived areas, 144 schools did not reach the 30% benchmark.

In contrast, of the 304 schools in the least deprived areas of the country, only nine schools or 3% had less than 30% of pupils getting five good GCSEs.

The figures are contained in a document launched by Mr Gove today which claims inequality in schools is increasing and the education system "entrenches disadvantage".

The Tories say the data highlights "the stark divide in achievement between the most well-off children and the rest".

The document, A Failed Generation - Educational Inequality under Labour claims children in the most deprived areas of the country are 20 times more likely to go to a failing school than children in the least deprived areas.

Twelve local authorities had less than a quarter of pupils attempt English, maths, science and a modern language at GCSE. These included Hartlepool, Kingston-upon-Hull, Barking and Dagenham, Middlesbrough and Knowsley.

It goes on to claim more than 33,000 pupils eligible for free school meals did not get GCSE grades higher than a D in 2006/07 and 21% of pupils on free school meals gained five good GCSEs, compared to 49% of pupils not eligible for free meals.

Mr Gove said education should be the "engine of social mobility" and the gap between rich and poor had to be "urgently addressed".

He said: "The Government's attempts to close the widening gap between rich and poor have failed.

"These figures highlight yet again that children from less well-off backgrounds do not get the same opportunities as others.

"Education should be the engine of social mobility. But most schools in the poorest areas are officially classed by the Government as 'failing' and children eligible for free school meals are nearly 200 times more likely to leave school without a single C at GCSE than they are to get three As at A-level.

"We urgently need to address the widening gap between rich and poor. We want to allow good new schools to set up in poor areas - based on the successful Swedish model - so that every parent gets the opportunity for their child that is currently only open to the rich."

Schools minister Jim Knight said: "The gap between rich and poor is closing and it is misleading to suggest otherwise.

"Between 2003 and 2007 the gap between those from low income homes and those from more affluent homes closed by three percentage points for English and maths at age 11 and similar improvements have been seen in secondary schools.

"We are investing a huge amount of time and energy into helping bring low performing schools up to standard.

"These are often located in the most deprived areas because of the problems that deprivation brings with it.

"But it's important not to generalise and many schools in deprived areas do very well, especially considering the extra challenges they face.

"Our National Challenge programme will ensure all those schools not hitting the target, of 30% of pupils getting five higher level GCSEs including English and maths get extra support."