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Lib Dems link school cash to poor | Lib Dems link school cash to poor |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The Liberal Democrats would tie extra cash to England's deprived pupils so they can get a "fair start" at school. | The Liberal Democrats would tie extra cash to England's deprived pupils so they can get a "fair start" at school. |
The current outcome for poor children was "horribly unfair", said the party's leader, Nick Clegg, | The current outcome for poor children was "horribly unfair", said the party's leader, Nick Clegg, |
He pledged to transform school funding with a £2.5bn "pupil premium" in which extra cash would follow poor pupils. | He pledged to transform school funding with a £2.5bn "pupil premium" in which extra cash would follow poor pupils. |
This would mean an extra £2,500 for each child on free school meals, he said, but insisted it would benefit all school children. | This would mean an extra £2,500 for each child on free school meals, he said, but insisted it would benefit all school children. |
In a speech setting out his party's policies on education and inequality, he said: "By age seven a bright but poor child will have been overtaken by his or her better off classmates. | |
"By age 16 poorer teenagers are only half as likely to get 5 good GCSEs as everyone else." | |
The outcome for poor children is horribly unfair Nick Clegg Lib Dem leader | The outcome for poor children is horribly unfair Nick Clegg Lib Dem leader |
He acknowledged that the Labour government had put more money into the education system, but it had failed poor children, particularly those from the inner cities, he said. | |
He said: "It hasn't done anywhere near enough to reach out to children from all disadvantaged backgrounds and give them the leg-up they need." | He said: "It hasn't done anywhere near enough to reach out to children from all disadvantaged backgrounds and give them the leg-up they need." |
Lib Dem research showed there was a huge variation in the performance of poor pupils living in different parts of the country, he added. | Lib Dem research showed there was a huge variation in the performance of poor pupils living in different parts of the country, he added. |
The pupil premium, the party's largest spending commitment, could lead to an average of £2,500 for every child on free school meals, he said. | The pupil premium, the party's largest spending commitment, could lead to an average of £2,500 for every child on free school meals, he said. |
More catch-up help | More catch-up help |
It works by targeting extra funds at schools which take on children who need more help. | It works by targeting extra funds at schools which take on children who need more help. |
It would top up the existing basic per pupil funding and would follow a pupil if they switched schools. | It would top up the existing basic per pupil funding and would follow a pupil if they switched schools. |
An average primary school of 200 pupils, with an average number of children on free school meals, would have an extra £90,000 in its budget. | An average primary school of 200 pupils, with an average number of children on free school meals, would have an extra £90,000 in its budget. |
This could reduce class size from 27 to 20, ensuring that every child would get the attention they need. | This could reduce class size from 27 to 20, ensuring that every child would get the attention they need. |
In an average secondary school, with 1,000 pupils it could mean an extra £400,000 every year. This could be used to recruit 12 extra teachers and cut class sizes to 16, or it could be used to pay for catch-up help for 160 pupils. | In an average secondary school, with 1,000 pupils it could mean an extra £400,000 every year. This could be used to recruit 12 extra teachers and cut class sizes to 16, or it could be used to pay for catch-up help for 160 pupils. |
Currently schools in England get extra money for deprivation levels on top of the per pupil funding. But this is based on average local authority free school meals levels. | Currently schools in England get extra money for deprivation levels on top of the per pupil funding. But this is based on average local authority free school meals levels. |
They also get different pots of money for a range of different pupil characteristics such as English as an additional language. | They also get different pots of money for a range of different pupil characteristics such as English as an additional language. |
The Lib Dems say that one in three pupils on free school meals attend schools in relatively affluent areas and so miss out on funding. | The Lib Dems say that one in three pupils on free school meals attend schools in relatively affluent areas and so miss out on funding. |
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