Ruth Kelly’s speech at the Institute for Public Policy Research

26 July 2005

Commenting on Ruth Kelly’s speech today at the Institute for Public Policy Research, Steve Sinnott, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said:

“I welcome the focus of Ruth Kelly’s speech but she needs to recognise that many schools in deprived areas have made very real progress for their children. All of us in education should concentrate on how we can give further support to schools in areas of social disadvantage. 

“Our country will not achieve the aim of tackling disadvantage through promoting choice.  Those with the greatest advantages have the greatest choices.  The Government’s choice agenda will simply benefit those with the greatest advantages and not those that need the greatest support.

“Reducing class size and making a range of extra support such as additional staff will help schools in the most challenging areas.

“I look to the Secretary of State to set out a range of practical personalised entitlements for young people from socially deprived backgrounds, including a guarantee of personal tuition and access to activities outside school.”