Colleges vital to closing attainment gap between disadvantaged students and their peers

Today the Education Policy Institute (EPI) publishes its Annual Report on the state of education in England – including the progress made in closing the gap in attainment between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.The Education in England: Annual Report 2018 considers how the disadvantage gap has changed since 2011 and how it varies across the country. Colleges do a lot of work to help the disadvantaged. In response to the new report, Catherine Sezen, Senior Policy Manager at the Association of Colleges, said: “Colleges are inclusive and help people to make the most of their talents and ambitions and drive social mobility, especially for those who are from disadvantaged backgrounds. “Unfortunately, a lack of funding has made running a college harder than ever, just at a time when colleges want to provide a full and rich curriculum and support for young people and adults. The balance between balancing the books and meeting students’ needs is not an easy one. “With additional funding, colleges could do much more. They are already doing so much to help businesses improve productivity and drive economic growth. They are rooted in their communities and drive tolerance and well-being. They are an essential part of England’s education system.”