Outcomes are shaped by socio-economic background
The Marmot Review (2010) Fair society, healthy lives
DCSF (2009) Deprivation and education
Longitudinal and Lifecourse Studies, 2(1), 2011)
Gaps appear early
They don’t narrow
There’s a gradient – not a cliff
Schools ameliorate – but they don’t transform
Bethan Thomas, John Pritchard, Dimitris Ballas, Dan Vickers and Danny Dorling Social & Spatial Inequalities Research Group Department of Geography The University of Sheffield http://www.shef.ac.uk/sasi
A Tale of Two Cities: The Sheffield Project
…but places also are unequal
http://www.hcz.org/home
A US response
One of our core beliefs is that in poor communities where, literally, all of the institutions are failing children, you can’t do one thing and expect you’ll solve the issue of scale. I mean, you can save some children with an early intervention programme, and you can save some children if you work with addicted mothers, and you can save some children if you have after-school programs. But if you start talking about how you’re going to save most of the children, you have to do all those things, and do them over the long term, and you have to make sure you count how many children actually received those services.
Students facing disadvantage may do better
Many children may understand more, and feel better about the school & themselves
What can be achieved?
Families & adults facing disadvantage may do better
Schools may: enjoy better community relations develop greater capacity perform better
The returns on investment can be substantial
Create a local learning network
Create an empowered community
Enhance opportunities for local people
Different strategic aims...
Create a local learning network
Create an empowered community
Enhance opportunities for local people
Different strategic aims...
Cummings, C., Dyson, A., & Todd, L. (2011) Beyond the School Gates: Can full service and extended schools overcome disadvantage? (London, Routledge)
Centre for Equity in Education
http://www.education.manchester.ac.uk/research/centres/cee/