Gove: Pupil premium will improve social mobility

July 28 2010

Staff in teaching jobs will be able to do more to improve the social mobility of underprivileged students due to the new pupil premium scheme, according to the education secretary.

Michael Gove has stated that the initiative, which will see schools receive additional funding for taking on poorer students, will help to prevent poorer pupils from falling behind in the "qualifications race".

He pointed to the fact that only 45 of the 80,000 students on the free school meals scheme were able to enrol in Oxbridge last year, while the UK has one of the worst attainment gaps between the highest and lowest-performing students internationally.

Mr Gove said the pupil premium initiative will allow schools to play a key role in addressing this discrepancy.

He added: "They should provide the knowledge and the tools to enable talented young people to overcome accidents of birth and an inheritance of disadvantage in order to enjoy greater opportunities."

The scheme was given tentative backing by Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, who told the Telegraph that more details must be given on how much funding is to be provided per student.

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