Figures issued today (5 November) by the Office for National Statistics show that Brading's Key Stage II age children are twice as likely as the England average to qualify for free school meals; 60% of the 135 local children at this stage last year achieved level 4 in both English and Maths compared with 73% in the country as a whole, The gaps had widened for GSCE pupils, Of Brading's 111 pupils taking GCSE's last year, 28% qualified for free school meals compared with 17% on the Island, 7% in the South East and 12% in England. 38% of Brading's young people achieved 5 or more passes at grades A* - C, compared with 42% on the Island, 52% in the South East and 48% in England. The results show clearly that poverty is a serious disadvantage in educational achievement wherever children live. In Brading, just 16% of its young people qualifying for free school meals achieved the 5 or more passes at A* - C level compared with 55% of those who didn't qualify for them. On the Island as a whole the difference is between the 35% of those qualifying for free school meals and the 60% of those who didn't qualify for them. The full table for Key Stage II can be read by clicking this link. The full table for GCSE can be read by clicking this link. |
