East Lancashire students from poorer backgrounds are showing better GCSE results

1:07pm Tuesday 19th June 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Nafeesa Shan, Reporter

MORE children from deprived backgrounds in East Lancashire are gaining five A*-C GCSE’s by the age of 19, it has been revealed.

But the new figures from the Department for Education show that far fewer teenagers from poorer backgrounds are securing the qualifications in English and maths.

Now Ofsted’s chief inspector of schools Michael Wilson has launched a review to tackle underperformance in children from deprived communities.

Education bosses in East Lancashire said they had been providing one-to-one teaching support to children, mentoring for youngsters and family support to help boost standards for the most disadvantaged to give them the best start in life.

Coun Maureen Bateson, Blackburn with Darwen executive member for children's services, said: "Whilst there is a clear link between poverty and achievement, it in no way means that children from poorer backgrounds cannot or will not achieve, just that the barriers they face are greater.

“Blackburn with Darwen schools and colleges have worked hard over the years in overcoming these barriers.

In Lancashire County Council, 902 children on free school meals gained five or more GCSEs but only 510 also achieved English and maths.

In 2010, 839 children classed as deprived gained five or more GCSEs and of those 488 secured English and maths.

In Blackburn with Darwen 298 deprived children gained five or more GCSEs but only 183 achieved an A* to C in English and maths in 2011.

In 2010, 259 children classed as deprived gained five or more GCSEs and of those 154 gained GCSEs in English and maths.

Comments (5)

2:07pm Tue 19 Jun 12

shytalk says...

What a shame they won't be able to afford to go on to university.
What a shame they won't be able to afford to go on to university. shytalk

4:23pm Tue 19 Jun 12

liveinabubble says...

Michael Wilshaw, not Wilson!
Michael Wilshaw, not Wilson! liveinabubble

4:32pm Tue 19 Jun 12

lancashirelad12 says...

For the simple reason that they want a better life for themselves.

They've grown up, knowing being from a 'poorer background' isn't ideal and are making the effort to ensure that doesn't happen to them.

But like someone has already said, it's a shame enough isn't being done to ensure people from 'poorer backgrounds' can go to university.
For the simple reason that they want a better life for themselves. They've grown up, knowing being from a 'poorer background' isn't ideal and are making the effort to ensure that doesn't happen to them. But like someone has already said, it's a shame enough isn't being done to ensure people from 'poorer backgrounds' can go to university. lancashirelad12

8:32pm Tue 19 Jun 12

Michael@ClitheroeSince58 says...

lancashirelad12 wrote:
For the simple reason that they want a better life for themselves.

They've grown up, knowing being from a 'poorer background' isn't ideal and are making the effort to ensure that doesn't happen to them.

But like someone has already said, it's a shame enough isn't being done to ensure people from 'poorer backgrounds' can go to university.
Hopefully if they have any sense they will get those Degrees and fly to a better land.
[quote][p][bold]lancashirelad12[/bold] wrote: For the simple reason that they want a better life for themselves. They've grown up, knowing being from a 'poorer background' isn't ideal and are making the effort to ensure that doesn't happen to them. But like someone has already said, it's a shame enough isn't being done to ensure people from 'poorer backgrounds' can go to university.[/p][/quote]Hopefully if they have any sense they will get those Degrees and fly to a better land. Michael@ClitheroeSince58

10:07am Wed 20 Jun 12

DaveBurnley says...

liveinabubble wrote:
Michael Wilshaw, not Wilson!
Looks like the reporter didn't get a very high literacy qualification!
[quote][p][bold]liveinabubble[/bold] wrote: Michael Wilshaw, not Wilson![/p][/quote]Looks like the reporter didn't get a very high literacy qualification! DaveBurnley

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