Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Children in England in deep poverty ‘stealing food from schools’

Children in England in deep poverty ‘stealing food from schools’

Professor of social mobility urges Tory party leadership candidates to say how they will tackle disadvantage
Children whose families are mired in “deep poverty” are stealing basic items such as food and tissues from their schools and some are missing lessons altogether because they cannot afford the bus fare, a leading social mobility expert has said.

Lee Elliot Major, a professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, said children were arriving at schools in England hungry, tired and anxious, while older pupils were missing sixth form because they were already out working to help their families as the cost of living crisis bit.

Schools were facing an unprecedented challenge because of Covid and the cost of living crisis, he said, and he urged candidates in the Conservative party leadership race to set out how they planned to tackle disadvantage and reduce learning loss caused by the pandemic.

“It is vital there is no policy paralysis created by political instability at the very time leadership is needed to address unprecedented challenges currently facing schools and universities,” he told the all-party parliamentary group on social mobility. “Failure to act now could mean a generation being scarred by the Covid pandemic.”

Elliot Major, who was the chief executive of the Sutton Trust educational charity before being appointed as the first professor of social mobility, added: “It’s disappointing that there has been little mention of levelling up, social mobility or improving opportunities so far among candidates for the new Conservative party leader.

“Teachers on the frontline are seeing children turning up to school hungry, tired and anxious, with many still missing school altogether. Pupils are stealing basic items like tissues, they can’t pay for the bus to get to school, some are missing out on sixth form because they’ve started working to help their families.”

This year, he said, would bring the toughest university admissions round in living memory as a result of increased numbers of 18-year-olds in the overall population and record application rates, just as some universities attempt to reduce numbers – particularly on the most popular courses – after two years of over-recruitment.

“Not enough money has been spent on helping teachers repair the damage caused by the pandemic, and the money spent so far has not been implemented well.”

He said he wanted pupil premium funding, which is given to schools to improve outcomes for the most disadvantaged students, to be doubled, and eligibility widened in order to benefit more of the “working poor”.

In addition, he said, Ofsted inspections and teacher training should include a greater focus on tackling disadvantage and inequality.

Research has shown that the pandemic has resulted in average learning loss of three to four months among children, with younger pupils more severely affected.

There have also been warnings that the pandemic will lead to a 4-12% decline in income mobility and Elliot Major is campaigning for a national university-led tutoring service to help pupils catch up on their lost learning.

A government spokesperson said: “We know schools and households are facing rising costs, which is why we are providing over £37bn to help those struggling, targeted at those with the greatest need.

“Core school funding is increasing, helping to meet wider cost pressures. This includes boosting the pupil premium to more than £2.6bn next year – meaning that per-pupil funding rates will be the highest, in cash terms, since this funding began.”
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
The Country That Got Too Rich? Public Spending Dominates Norway Election
EU Proposes Phasing Out Russian Oil and Gas by End of 2027 to End Energy Dependence
More Than 150,000 Followers for a Fictional Character: The New Influencers Are AI Creations
EU Prepares for War
Trump Threatens Retaliatory Tariffs After EU Imposes €2.95 Billion Fine on Google
Tesla Board Proposes Unprecedented One-Trillion-Dollar Performance Package for Elon Musk
Gold Could Reach Nearly $5,000 if Fed Independence Is Undermined, Goldman Sachs Warns
Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay Secure Places at 2026 World Cup
Trump Administration Advances Plans to Rebrand Pentagon as Department of War Instead of the Fake Term Department of Defense
Big Tech Executives Laud Trump at White House Dinner, Unveil Massive U.S. Investments
Tether Expands into Gold Sector with Profit-Driven Diversification
‘Looks Like a Wig’: Online Users Express Concern Over Kate Middleton
Florida’s Vaccine Revolution: DeSantis Declares War on Mandates
Trump’s New War – and the ‘Drug Tyrant’ Fearing Invasion: ‘1,200 Missiles Aimed at Us’
"The Situation Has Never Been This Bad": The Fall of PepsiCo
At the Parade in China: Laser Weapons, 'Eagle Strike,' and a Missile Capable of 'Striking Anywhere in the World'
The Fashion Designer Who Became an Italian Symbol: Giorgio Armani Has Died at 91
Putin Celebrates ‘Unprecedentedly High’ Ties with China as Gazprom Seals Power of Siberia-2 Deal
China Unveils New Weapons in Grand Military Parade as Xi Hosts Putin and Kim
Rapper Cardi B Cleared of Liability in Los Angeles Civil Assault Trial
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
Druzhba Pipeline Incident Sparks Geopolitical Tensions
Cost of Opposition Leader Péter Magyar's Economic Plan Revealed
Germany in Turmoil: Ukrainian Teenage Girl Pushed to Death by Illegal Iraqi Migrant
United Krack down on human rights: Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Three X Posts, Hospitalised, Released on Bail with Posting Ban
Asian and Middle Eastern Investors Avoid US Markets
Ray Dalio Warns of US Shift to Autocracy
Eurozone Inflation Rises to 2.1% in August
Russia and China Sign New Gas Pipeline Deal
×