Industry News
Govt 'must increase state funding to private levels'
Posted on 29th November 2007
Further calls have been made for the government to increase funding at state schools to private school levels.
Steve Sinnott, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, made his comments in response to news that the attainment gap for black pupils is closing.
Figures published by the government have revealed black Caribbean pupils' rate of improvement in GCSE examinations has been nearly twice the national average since 2003.
They showed black African pupils also made excellent progress, with 55.6 per cent of pupils securing at least five good GCSEs, compared to 40.7 in 2003.
Schools minister Lord Adonis commented that the trends are "encouraging" as they mean better chances in life for the children.
However, Mr Sinnott said social class continues to be a "powerful influence on achievement".
"Gordon Brown must now set a date for achieving his target of raising state school spending to private school levels and within that make the top priority raising spending on youngsters from socially deprived backgrounds," he urged.
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