Poverty and Low Educational Achievement in Wales: Student, Family and Communiity Interventions
On average about 17 per cent of Welsh children live in relative poverty, using the percentage of children receiving free school meals (FSM) as an indicator. The educational performance of these children compared with those who come from more prosperous backgrounds provides clear evidence of the effect of poverty on educational achievement, a major issue for the Welsh Government.
Studies have found that under-achievement in children in Wales receiving FSM may be a significant problem from nursery class onwards. Of particular concern is the gap between the educational achievement at age 15 of students in receipt of FSM and those who are not, as measured by performance in GCSE examinations.
In fact there has always been a ‘long-tail’ of achievement in the education system in Wales. When in the past relatively low-skilled employment was plentiful in the coal, metal and manufacturing industries this might have been acceptable. In the current challenging economic environment this can no longer be the case.
As part of its Action Plan to improve educational performance, the Welsh Government has decided that reducing the impact of poverty on what children achieve in school is one of its three main priorities. The other two – improving standards of literacy and numeracy – are seen as being closely related to the priority on poverty (Andrews, 2011a and b).
Given this background, it is crucially important for the Welsh Government and the education system in Wales to decide what now needs to be done to improve the educational performance of children living in poverty in Wales.
Published : 21st February 2013
Author : David Egan [ More From This Author ]
Publisher : Joseph Rowntree Foundation [ More From This Publisher ]
Rights : Joseph Rowntree Foundation
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