Responding to a
report
which has exposed the ‘double disadvantage’ being faced by young people
from poor backgrounds, the Green Party has called on the government to
tackle the rising impact of poverty on young peoples’ futures.
The report, written by education charity the Sutton Trust, found that
less than one in three (29%) white working class boys from poor
neighbourhoods are studying past GCSE level. That’s compared to almost
half (46%) of working class boys from affluent areas and two in three
(68%) of boys from wealthier backgrounds.
Alongside teaching unions and campaign groups, the Green Party has
consistently emphasised the link between poverty and poor attainment in
education, and called for greater investment in teaching as well as an
end to the welfare reforms which have seen inequality widen.
Green Party spokesperson for schools, Samantha Pancheri, said:
The evidence of the damaging impact austerity is having on young
people’s futures continues to mount and yet the government continues to
wilfully ignore the facts. Quite frankly it’s inexcusable.
From welfare reforms exacerbating poverty, to cuts to education
budgets, and the creeping privatisation of the education system, this
report confirms that young peoples’ aspirations are being eroded through
an assault on their future – an assault that the government has the
power to stop.
We should not be surprised that working class children from poor
neighbourhoods feel
disenfranchised from education, as the government’s
reforms are creating more pressure than ever on pupils to perform well
in examinations, whilst simultaneously eroding their prospects to turn
this into a meaningful future for themselves.
Whilst this report highlights the urgent need to address the causes
of young people struggling through the education system up to GCSE
level, it is vital that this is accompanied by widespread efforts to
protect Further Education, and ensure that pupils have every opportunity
to fulfil their potential.
