Narrowing the Gap

Coronavirus: On the wrong side of the digital divide

10 June 2020

What does the research say about the impact of the coronavirus lockdown on potential gaps in learning – and about how schools can best support students and their families with remote education – especially those on the wrong side of the digital divide? Dr Beng Huat See considers the evidence

A school system that drives social justice: Resources & funding

8 June 2020

In a seven-part series, teacher and school leader David Anderson considers how schools can be a key driver for social justice and how we can make our education system more equitable. In part three, he considers huge disparities between state and private schools when it comes to resources and funding

A school system that drives social justice: A blueprint for equity

6 May 2020

In a seven-part series, teacher and school leader David Anderson draws on his Master’s research to consider how schools can be a key driver for social justice and how we can make our education system more equitable. In part one, he looks at inequity across the system, the challenges we face and ...

Interventions: How well do you know your cognitive bias?

5 February 2020

Cognitive bias can present itself in many forms and can hamper your school’s work to raise attainment and close the gaps. Fiona Aubrey-Smith asks whether cognitive bias is holding you, your colleagues or your school back

Pupil Premium: An intervention epidemic?

12 June 2019

Is a lack of diagnosis leading to guess work in a world of solutions looking for problems? Phil Naylor urges schools to ensure that the evidence backs up their interventions

Spending the Pupil Premium Plus effectively

20 June 2018

The Pupil Premium Plus grant for looked after and other vulnerable pupils is £2,300 per-student, but many schools are still uncertain as to how it can be best utilised. Virtual school headteacher Darren Martindale advises

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Pupil Premium: A 10-step spending plan

21 March 2018

All schools should be regularly reviewing their Pupil Premium practice to ensure their spending is evidence-based and improving outcomes. John Dabell looks at the wealth of research and guidance out there to help, including some of Sir John Dunford’s best advice

Pupil Premium: Using CPD to narrow the gaps

21 March 2018

The evidence is clear – the quality of teachers and teaching is one of the most important factors in raising outcomes, and disadvantaged pupils are disproportionally affected by the quality of teaching. Maria Cunningham looks at the role of CPD in narrowing the gaps

Pupil Premium: Low-cost strategies

21 March 2018

Some schools are using the Pupil Premium to plug holes in their general funding. John Dabell warns against this approach and offers 25 low-cost ways to spend the Pupil Premium and make maximum impact

Pupil Premium: Closing the vocabulary gap

21 March 2018

The educational gaps between rich and poor start early and widen throughout a pupil’s education. Matt Bromley argues that Pupil Premium spending must focus on cultural capital, especially the importance of vocabulary

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Focusing on Pupil Premium Plus

21 March 2018

Pupil Premium Plus is a specific stream of Pupil Premium funding, but are schools spending it as intended and what impact is it having? Julie Johnson looks at the specific needs of looked after pupils, which often include attachment problems

Schools that succeed with disadvantaged pupils

26 April 2017

On his retirement, former head of Harrow Barnaby Lenon went on a tour of schools in England that achieve outstanding results, in many cases with disadvantaged pupils. He has written a book about the lessons he learned...

Attainment: Closing the gender gap

19 April 2017

What should we be doing about the achievement gap between girls and boys? School leader Caroline Sherwood discusses the impact that gender stereotyping can have and the challenges faced by schools and teachers

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Some principles of effective Pupil Premium teaching

18 January 2017

We’re all focused on hard and fast interventions for Pupil Premium students, but what difference can we make in our general approach as teachers? Pupil Premium lead teacher Caroline Sherwood discusses some key tenets of effective support for disadvantaged students

The building blocks of Pupil Premium success

6 January 2016

Drawing on the work of more than 1,300 schools, new research into the Pupil Premium has identified the common successful strategies and the key ‘building blocks’ for their implementation. Dorothy Lepkowska reports
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