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<p>Between 2011 and 2019, the attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their
more advantaged peers narrowed 13% at key stage 2 and 9% at key stage 4. However,
the department is aware that even before the pandemic there was still further to go.
The department recognises the attainment gap that persists between vulnerable and
disadvantaged pupils compared to their peers. The Schools White Paper sets out the
department’s long-term vision for a school system that helps every child to fulfil
their potential by ensuring that they receive the right support, in the right place,
at the right time – founded on achieving world-class literacy and numeracy.</p><p>The
Schools White Paper sets out two ambitions for 2030:</p><ul><li>90% of primary school
children will achieve the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, and the
percentage of children meeting the expected standard in the worst performing areas
will have increased by a third.</li><li>In secondary schools, the national GCSE average
grade in both English language and in maths will increase from 4.5 in 2019 to 5 by
2030.</li></ul><p><br>The department aims to build capacity where it is needed most,
and the government’s Levelling Up White Paper identified 55 Education Investment Areas
(EIAs), where efforts will focus on driving school improvement. This includes building
trust capacity, using part of the £86 million the department has committed to investing
in trust capacity over the next three years. Additionally, schools in EIAs that have
been judged less than Good in two or more successive Ofsted inspections could be moved
into strong trusts to help drive up standards. The department is currently consulting
on plans to support schools not making necessary improvements. Additionally, the Levelling
Up premium, worth up to £3,000 tax-free for eligible teachers working in disadvantaged
schools, including in EIAs, will be used to tackle staffing issues. EIAs include one-third
of local authorities in England where educational attainment is currently weakest,
and there are five EIAs in the West Midlands.</p><p>More recently, in the Schools
White Paper, the department announced a subset of 24 Priority EIAs, where more intensive
investment and support will be provided to address entrenched underperformance. This
includes Sandwell, Stoke-on-Trent, and Walsall which were selected due to particularly
low attainment and high rates of disadvantage. Priority EIAs will have access to a
share of approximately £40 million to address specific local needs with bespoke interventions,
a multi academy trust CEO development programme and comprehensive support for digital
connectivity through Connect the Classroom. They will also have priority access to
other Department for Education programmes, such as bids for new free schools.</p>
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