Advantaging the Disadvantaged

'Advantaging the disadvantage' is the mantra that I keep repeating.  There is a national agenda to 'narrow the gap' and there is an achievement gap between young people from areas of socio-economic deprivation and their peers, just as those students who qualify for Free School Meals and their peers.  This is an important distinction to address. The former being the postcode in which you live and the latter relating to your family circumstances.  This is an important distinction to understand. You need to appreciate the individual needs and experiences that each circumstance throws up and what challenges are put in front of each individual.

Narrowing the gap, in terms of exam performance isn't enough. Those disadvantages don't stop once they get their certificates.  To really address the disadvantage, we need to provide advantages that make up for the opportunities and experiences that they may not have access to or the support, inspiration and belief that they can do what they see other people doing.