Let’s talk about disadvantage: The fundamental importance of oracy in closing the gap
Written by: Angela Schofield
8 min read
Angela Schofield, Programme Development Lead, Excelsior Multi-Academy Trust, UK
When considering the wealth of research around the complexities of narrowing the disadvantage gap, the fundamental importance of oracy to the many suggested strategies is clear. Whether the focus is on early reading, relationships, metacognition and self-regulation or language development and comprehension, oracy underpins the work. According to the Fisher Family Trust (2022), the attainment gap at Key Stage 2 in 2022 was the highest for a decade, at 3.4. Worryingly, 6.1 per cent of disadvantaged pupils were not entered for the reading test in 2022, compared to 4.8 per cent in 2019, an increase of 1.3 percentage points. The equivalent figures in maths were 5.8 per cent and 4.6 per cent, an increase of 1.2 percentage points. This paints a picture of a Sisyphean struggle to narrow the gap. Is closing the gap an unattainable dream? While COVID certainly played a part in this increasing gap, the trend has be
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