Today’s news review looks a report by the Commission on Inequality in Education report, UCAS Admission Statistics, and research reports looking at the impact of early education on young children.
Commission on Inequality in Education Report
Today, 13 July, there has been widespread coverage of a report by the Commission on Inequality in Education. The story was covered on BBC Breakfast, Sky News and TES.
BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme covered the story with a specific focus on schools in Derby. The department selected Derby as an Opportunity Area, as part of its £72million programme to help 12 social mobility coldspots to create better opportunities for young people and develop solutions to raise educational outcomes.
As part of this we’ve just named a new research school to provide resources for teachers in Derby to help tackle social mobility in their classrooms, and we have given over £1million of growth funding to enable eight Multi Academy Trusts to expand their reach across Derby’s academies.
During a speech at the Sutton Trust yesterday, the Secretary of State for Education Justine Greening said tackling social mobility will be at the heart of the department’s work.
A Department for Education Spokesperson said:
This government wants to make sure that every pupil gets a world-class education regardless of their background or where they live, and we have made significant progress.
There are 1.8 million more pupils in good or outstanding schools than in 2010, more disadvantaged students than ever before attending university and we are investing an additional £500 million a year into high quality technical education.
UCAS Application Statistics
Statistics released today by UCAS show that in England the proportion of 18-year-olds in the population that apply to university by has risen to a record 37.9%. As well, the application rate of young people from the most disadvantaged backgrounds applying has increased to 22.5% for England, the highest level recorded.
This has been covered by the TES, BBC and the Press Association
A Department for Education spokesperson said:
Young people continue to see the benefits of going to university, with record application rates for 18 year olds and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Higher Education reforms will give people more choice and universities will be expected to continue improving access and participation in higher education.
The Government is committed to supporting all young people to reach their full potential – whether that is going to university, starting an apprenticeship or taking up a technical qualification.
Child development
The DfE funded research, carried out by Oxford University, into the effects of nurseries on children’s development. The study of 6,000 children showed that nurseries, playgroups and childminders benefit infants’ development more than nannies.
The study backs up our plans to offer 30 hours free childcare to working families and the £6billion a year we invest in childcare.
This was covered in The Daily Telegraph and Nursery World.
Minister for Children and Families Robert Goodwill said:
Every child deserves the best start in life. These reports are further evidence that access to early education – whether in formal childcare settings or at home in a supportive family environment – can significantly improve a child’s outcomes.
That’s why we are more determined than ever that as many families as possible benefit from this, backed by an investment of £6 billion per year in childcare. We know that parents value the variety of childcare that is available, and today’s research shows that having this choice can benefit a child’s development in different ways, ensuring the maximum impact on their learning.
For information on childcare choices, please click here.