City MP Stephen Morgan has criticised the government for its failure to support disadvantaged children in Portsmouth and across the country.
The Portsmouth South MP questioned Ministers in the House of Commons this week following reports that the attainment gap between pupils on free school meals and their peers widened to its largest level in 10 years.
The Government’s own figures have revealed that the gap between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged children in Portsmouth in key stage one has continued to grow following COVID-19.
Just 43% of primary age children on free school meals met the expected standards in reading, writing and maths.
Across secondary schools the gap was widening even before the Covid pandemic, while the government’s failure to deliver the comprehensive recovery plan their own expert called for has entrenched inequalities.
Standing up for disadvantaged children in Portsmouth and across the country, Stephen Morgan asked the Schools Minister:
“The government’s failure to invest in our schools and children has been laid bare, with disadvantaged pupils now further behind their peers than at any point in the last 10 years.
Given that the Minister of State for Schools has been in post for the vast majority of this period, what does he put this failure down to?”
One of Labour’s Missions for government is to break down barriers to opportunity for all children, regardless of where they’re born, their circumstances and family background.
The party has pledged to deliver high and rising standards in every school, for every child through recruiting thousands of new teachers – funded by ending tax breaks for private schools – to ensure every child gets the best standards of teaching and learning.
The Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan, said:
“Despite what the Minister may say at the despatch box, the reality in classrooms is that under the Tories the disadvantage gap is widening, causing millions of children to lose out on opportunities and life chances.
That’s why I’m standing up for children in Portsmouth and across the country by calling on the Government to close the gap.
Labour will deliver high and rising standards in every school, for every child, by ending tax breaks for private schools and using that money to recruit 6,500 new teachers”.
You can view the City MP’s question and the Ministerial response here.
