27th January 2016 1:00
By Blue Tutors
A new study has shown that children’s academic success today is determined by geographical location more than in previous generations, suggesting that the attainment gap between the north and the sound of England is widening. The Social Market Foundation has compared the exam results of students born in 1970 with those born in 2000 and found that the regional differences are far more profound. They noted that the best results were in London, and the lowest were in Yorkshire, and concluded that where students live has become an increasingly important factor in determining academic success.
For the 1970 cohort, the results suggested that location wasn’t a significant factor in determining results, with children’s social background being the biggest factor all over the country. The results from this period also showed that many areas were achieving higher results than London. Today, geographic area has become the key factor in predicting a child’s exam results, while London now outstrips the rest of the country in results. Meanwhile, northern and coastal towns consistently achieve the poorest results. Concomitant research has shown that there are now much higher levels of poverty in the north east and Midlands compared to the 1970s.
Ofsted chief Michael Wilshaw has warned of an increasing north south divide, with children’s results largely determined by where they live. The government has said that they are attempting to expand the Teach First and Schools direct programmes into areas where results are poorer. They have also pointed out that there is a pupil premium fund to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds, although concerns have been raised that this money is often used by schools simply to cover the costs of getting teachers to cover all classes.