UK to Halve Educational Attainment Gap

The UK government has announced plans to cut in half the educational attainment gap between disadvantaged students and their peers in England by the end of secondary schooling for children born under the current Parliament. This initiative is part of a comprehensive Schools White Paper to be fully released soon. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated that the reforms would dismantle the 'one-size-fits-all system' and benefit students from all backgrounds. Reforms will include changes to how funding is allocated to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Additionally, controversial changes concerning special educational needs and disability (SEND) support are expected. Starting from 2029, children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) will have their support needs reassessed after primary school. The new system will implement Individual Support Plans (ISPs) for all children with identified needs. However, this has caused concern among parents and experts about the potential for reduced rights and increased bureaucracy.