Equity in Education Alan Dyson Centre for Equity in Education University of Manchester d.a.dyson@manchester.ac.uk
It’s not where you start…
…it’s where you finish
Poverty Poor outcomes
Wealth! Education reform
Poverty Area effects Family stress Poor outcomes Economic disadvantage Limited life chances Poverty Parenting Support for learning Social skills Area effects Family stress Employment Transport & access Street crime Poor services Poor outcomes Health Education Well being
Where we are Education reform alone isn’t working Current reform efforts torn between ‘excellence’ & ‘equity’ Excellence agenda as currently understood undermines equity Narrow targets Markets & competition Deficit view of disadvantaged groups Weak linkage between education & social reform
What we need Redistribution & growth Poverty Family & personal support Area effects Family stress Area regeneration Poor outcomes Improved services & standards
What’s beginning to emerge Networks of education providers Schools, colleges, children’s centres, community educators Working with networks of child & family support agencies Within a local regeneration strategy
What we now need A serious look at admissions & competition A serious look at schools’ community responsibilities A serious look at localism