School reforms will not help disadvantaged pupils, say teachers

21 Apr 11
Fewer than one in ten teachers believe the coalition government’s education policies will help disadvantaged children, according to a survey.
By Richard Johnstone

21 April 2011

Fewer than one in ten teachers believe the coalition government’s education policies will help disadvantaged children, according to a survey.

The poll, covering 2,199 teachers working in England, was carried out by the National Foundation for Educational Research on behalf of social mobility charity the Sutton Trust. It also revealed that the majority of the teachers (69%) feared that the government’s drive for school autonomy could lead to increased social segregation between schools.

Just 8% believed that the government’s reforms, including introducing more academies and establishing free schools, could improve educational outcomes for less privileged children. Sixty four per cent of teachers disagreed with the statement, with 28% strongly opposed to this view. 

In particular, they oppose plans for the establishment of free schools set up by parent groups, teachers, charities and other organisations. Only 8% of those surveyed thought free schools would improve education standards with 67% disagreeing, including 30% strongly.

Sutton Trust chair Sir Peter Lampl said: 'Teachers are not only knowledgeable about what is likely to work but they are also the key players in implementing government reforms and the fact that less than 10% think they will improve outcomes for less privileged children is very serious. 

‘Clearly the government has a lot of work to do to convince teachers who remain fearful that moves to increase school freedoms will actually widen attainment gaps between poorer pupils and their more privileged peers.’

Patrick Roach, deputy general secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers, told Public Finance that the survey results were ‘quite worrying, but not surprising’.

He said: ‘We have been talking to thousands of teachers since the government published its coalition programme about what it will mean for the quality of education and there’s been a real concern among teachers that it will have a negative impact.

‘Our members are saying that the eye is being taken off the ball in schools in debates about whether they should become academies.’

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: ‘The current schools system has failed to narrow the attainment gap for the poorest pupils – which is why we are overhauling the education system. This report was written prior to the publication of our schools white paper, which outlined our plans to raise standards, make every school a good school to give children from every background the chance to succeed.’

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