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The latest news, analysis, research and advice regarding disadvantaged pupils, including information on funding, free school meals and closing the attainment gap

Friday

1st May 2026

The complex story behind rising suspensions in primary schools
Suspensions have risen in primary schools but fallen in secondaries. Here, education leaders tell Tes what they think is behind the contrasting trends
Primary suspensions rising
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Thursday

30th Apr 2026

School leaders ‘not aware’ of admissions segregation
Affluent pupils are almost twice as likely to attend high-attaining schools as poorer pupils, even within the same catchment area, research shows
School leaders 'lack awareness' of social division

Wednesday

29th Apr 2026

Low prior attainers not harmed by learning in sets, EEF finds
But high-attaining maths students in Year 7 and Year 8 performed worse when taught in mixed-ability groups, according to research from Education Endowment Foundation
teaching maths

Thursday

23rd Apr 2026

Two in five school leaders ‘cutting back on SEND support’
Sutton Trust research into the cuts schools are having to make reveals the ‘mismatch’ between the government’s ambitious plans and the funding being provided, sector leaders warn
Two in five school leaders cutting back on SEND support, survey suggests

Friday

13th Mar 2026

How our coastal school has stopped leavers becoming Neet
The North East has England’s highest proportion of young people not in education, employment or training, but one school in the region has brought its Neet number down to zero. Here’s how
How schools can stop leavers becoming Neet - not in education, employment or training

Friday

30th Jan 2026

White disadvantaged girls see sharpest drop at GCSE
Leaders call for the government to set out targeted action amid fears that girls are being overlooked in the drive to improve white working-class pupils’ outcomes
Bad exam results
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Saturday

24th Jan 2026

FSM students face new barriers to university - and schools need to react
Encouraging disadvantaged students to apply to university isn’t enough – we need to prepare them for online bullying and financial challenges, writes trust executive leader Keziah Featherstone
Girls on obstacle course

Tuesday

4th Nov 2025

How we’re getting disadvantaged boys more engaged in school
A new programme targeted at boys who are eligible for free school meals has resulted in improved attendance and behaviour at 17 United Learning schools. Ellen Peirson-Hagger hears what it involves
Boys group with mentor

Friday

31st Oct 2025

Are literacy challenges putting students off history?
The history curriculum is not equally accessible to all students, says Evelyn Waite – and that matters now more than ever
History book

Friday

17th Oct 2025

Most pupils in poverty missing out on free school meals
Free school meals eligibility is ‘no longer fit for purpose’ as a measure of pupil deprivation, EPI report warns
Majority of children in poverty miss out on free school meals

Thursday

9th Oct 2025

Inclusion ‘by design’: why it matters and how to do it
With the new Ofsted framework taking a broad view of inclusion, it’s even more important to make teaching inclusive ‘by design’ and not by accident, suggests Alex Quigley
Inclusive shapes

Friday

19th Sep 2025

7 in 10 primaries expect budget deficits as pupil numbers fall
Falling pupil rolls mean many schools are expecting to cut provision, such as reducing their curriculum offer, NFER research finds
Pennies falling from hands