Closing the Achievement Gap in England’s Secondary Schools

A child’s educational development is influenced by a complex range of factors, including individual characteristics, the wider family environment, the neighbourhood where they live, and the schools they attend. We, therefore, must work towards a more holistic approach to improving children’s outcomes that links families, schools, and communities. However, we also recognise that the quality of teaching and learning in schools is important in itself.

This briefing focuses specifically on the role of teaching and learning at England’s secondary schools in closing the achievement gap between children from poor homes and their peers. It summarises research carried out by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) (Clifton, J and Cook, W (2012) A long division: closing the attainment gap in England’s secondary schools, London: IPPR), which was supported by Save the Children.