The findings from new research into gaps in attainment in Wales “should be a wake-up call to policymakers”, and the country “should do better”, according to the author of the report.
Luke Sibieta co-authored the new Education Policy Institute analysis of inequalities in GCSE results across England and Wales, published today.
Dr Sibieta, who carried out the research with Dr Joana Cardim-Dias, made his comments in a series of tweets after the analysis revealed that, overall, the disadvantage-related attainment gap is larger in Wales than in England.
The research also revealed that the seven areas with the biggest attainment gaps are all in Wales.
The report says the differences in attainment cannot be explained by different demographics, and that “local authorities in Wales need to learn more from deprived areas of England with similar demographics that have managed to achieve smaller disadvantage gaps over time”.
The report is unenthusiastic about the difference that the major education reform underway in Wales - including the new curriculum, which will be introduced in September - can make.
Tackling the disadvantage gap in schools
It acknowledges that the impact of “some different choices are still to be felt, such as the curriculum and changes to assessments”, but adds that “these are generally not changes that are known to reduce educational inequality”.
The new analysis, which looked at the disadvantage gap at GCSE level, says that in Wales it amounted to around 22 to 23 months of educational progress in 2019.
That figure was higher than the disadvantage gap in England, which the researchers put at 18 months of educational progress in 2019.
The report also says that only “modest” progress has been made in closing the gap in Wales and in England since 2011; in Wales the disadvantage gap in 2011 was 24 months, and in England it was 20 months.
The gap was found to be even larger for pupils experiencing persistent disadvantage - those pupils eligible for free school meals for 80 per cent of their time in school. The persistent disadvantage gap was 23 months of education in England in 2019 but 29 months in Wales, with almost no closing of these gaps in the past 10 years.
Meanwhile, the data also suggests the gap is at its widest - 25 to 28 months - in seven areas of Wales: in Wrexham, Merthyr Tydfil, Blaenau Gwent, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen, Pembrokeshire and Neath Port Talbot.
The report says: “In these seven Welsh local authorities the disadvantage gap is larger or equal to that seen in any local authority in England.”
Blackpool had the largest gap in England, at 25 months.
Dr Sibieta said that the gap was likely to be larger in Wales because of policy and school changes during the 2000s, with the report saying that “the drivers of a higher disadvantage gap in Wales predate 2010”.
The report adds: “Neither is there any evidence that the specific Welsh approach to schools’ policy has led to any meaningful reduction in educational inequality. The effects of some different choices are still to be felt, such as the curriculum and changes to assessments. However, these are generally not changes that are known to reduce educational inequality.”
The report recommends:
- Targeting extra funding at more deprived schools and also specifically targeting pupils experiencing persistent disadvantage.
- A focus on teacher quality - it says “this may include policies designed to improve recruitment and retention of high-quality teachers in more deprived areas, such as salary supplements, and access to high-quality professional development to improve the quality of teaching overall”.
- One-to-one and small group tutoring.
However, it also acknowledges that schools are unlikely to be able to close the disadvantage gap on their own.
The report says: ”A significant narrowing of the disadvantage gap also requires a wider focus on child poverty, other parts of the education system (such as the early years), and other public services (such as children’s services).”
A Welsh government spokesperson said: “We are doing everything we can to ensure our education system supports all learners to achieve their full potential and fulfil their aspirations.
“We are also working hard to reduce poverty levels in Wales, although the UK government is responsible for many of the main levers to do this, such as the welfare and benefit system.
“We will continue to do everything in our power to tackle inequalities and improve outcomes for all children in Wales.”
