Education

The Government has revealed wokingham has one of the biggest gaps in grades between wealthy and poor students in the country
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Grade gap between Wokingham's poorest and richest one of country's worst

By Jon Nurse
January 25, 2013

The grade gap between Wokingham’s poorest pupils and their peers has been revealed to be one of the country’s worst.

The Minister of State for Schools, David Laws, has put pressure on the borough council after Key Stage Two statistics shamed schools’ results.

He is asking the authority to set out its plans to improve its performance in a bid to urgently tackle the gap.

Exam results for 11-year-olds in Wokingham revealed 83.96 per cent of children not receiving free school meals reached at least level four in both English and Maths last year, but the equivalent figure for children receiving free school meals was just 52.87 per cent.

The difference of 31.08 per cent is one of highest in the country.

Mr Laws urged the council to narrow the gap when he contacted 15 local authorities following the release of the results last month.

In his letter, Mr Laws said: “The Government is committed to closing this gap between disadvantaged children and their school peers.

“To that end we have created and funded pupil premium for all 87 children in Wokingham borough in receipt of free school meals.

“We acknowledge that you have made good progress in beginning to close this gap over the last year by 4.99 per cent, but nevertheless there is clearly still a long way to go.”

A Wokingham Borough Council spokeswoman said: “Closing the gap in the performance of underachieving groups is a priority for us and it drives what we, our partners and our borough schools do.

“We’re making good progress.

“For example, we’ve been raising awareness about the issue with our headteachers and we have provided support and advice to our schools in addressing the needs of children and young people who have been underachieving.

“We have introduced a ‘achievement for all’ programme in early years settings and schools, promoted strategies for ‘hard to reach’ families and underachieving groups, and have targeted work to monitor the progress and education plans of children in care.

“We have also worked through our adviser for Traveller children to promote good attendance and family engagement with education to raise achievement.”

The council has set up a working group, chaired by the executive member for children’s services Councillor Charlotte Haitham Taylor, to co-ordinate the council’s actions to narrow the gap.

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@alex-f Best of luck to you to with whatever you plan to do.

wokinghamworker, Wokingham
27/01/2013 at 13:42

I think this has gone slightly off topic from the original discussion but its been fun chatting wokinghamworker. Best of luck with the CMP.

alex_f, Wokingham
27/01/2013 at 11:37

@alex-f I don't live in a dream world, infact I am a realist. It is vital for people to get acively involved in local politics if they are able to, and this is because if we don't get involved in politics the corrupt elite shall just remain in power for many more years, it will be many more years of repression if we don't attempt to challenge the status quo. Anyway, I do partly agree with you on the CMP website, I think it should be more detailed and specific about what the party actually stands for. The problem is, though, we are a very new party and thus are still gathering all of our ideas together. You can see a summarised manifesto of the Conteporary Marxist Party by downloading their leaflets on their party website.

I thnk that local politicians should work in the interests of the local people, as if the local people want more local industry into their area and have restrictions on big business then fine. It's also fine if the people want business to go abroad to China and for us to live in a society with global capitalism, bt it is vital for the people to democratically decide.

The reason I am accusing you of supporting the corrupt elite is because you, unlike me, aren't challengoin the status quo and don't want any alternatve to the current capitalist system.

wokinghamworker, Wokingham
27/01/2013 at 10:06

Lol sorry - we got a bit off topic there but my views on the article are in there somewhere ;-)

alex_f, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 22:30

sorry i thought this was an open forum. i didn't realise it was already booked.

parlovero, Earley
26/01/2013 at 22:27

Again a great example of the reason why - the one post per person rule should be introduced on comments......... cue Cllr Baker........ ;)

Local Woky, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 22:24

Wokinghamworker - you live in a bit of a dream world and your ideas are not mature enough to even consider running in politics. You can't be taken seriously only having a website consisting of a forum filled with sound bytes and zero substance. You want no one to move from their hometown and if they don't find the job there they want, to get into politics to make it so. We would end up with a country of politicians. And do that without any real world experience, so you don't actually have a clue what you're reforming or how to get the businesses there. You then want (local) politicians to force appropriate companies to open offices where they decide to have careers.

The co-op does have a CEO and management team, and handsomely paid might I add. I have not once said I was against co-op type businesses, I think it's a marvellous idea to share profits throughout the workforce to improve a sense of ownership and worth in a company, and not reserving this just for the more senior staff. John Lewis / Waitrose is of course another good example of this, and its great to hear stories of checkout staff getting significant bonuses as well as seniors. I'm also not sure why you have decided that I'm all for big business management hogging the profits. I am in favour of the John Lewis / co-op type employee ownership model.

Anyway, go back to the drawing board, get some more life and work experience and then consider running in local politics. It's clear you're unable to discuss matters beyond a headline / cliched statement level and you need to understand fully what you are saying before being massacred by an electorate.

alex_f, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 22:04

alex-f You could have stayed in Middlesbrough and tried to reform politics locally so there would be more jobs which would have suited you. Maybe the co-op does have a CEO, I don't know but what I do know is that worker co-operatives haven't been put into practice as much as what big businesses have so how can you criticise ths idea? Why not give it a chance? Oh, I know why. It's because you like the idea of there being one person hogging all of the money which they didn't work for. If it weren't for the employees the CEO's won't be in the position they are in. If, though, the CEO's weren't around, the employees would still be in the position they are in because they manage the sales, goods accoounting etc and all of the elements that is needed of a business to run.

wokinghamworker, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 21:34

Wokinghamworker - what I am saying is that good parenting and upbringing should be done regardless of what is happening with bankers and big businesses. I provide my own circumstances as a very good example of this. You do realise the co-op has a CEO don't you?

When I refer to experience, I refer to real world life and work experience. If I went straight into politics I wouldn't get this experience. Some members of our cabinet could do with a day or two in a normal job for a change.

Anyway your ridiculous comments are just wasting my time now as whatever I say you'll just make rubbish up out of thin air. How on earth am I a traitor to my hometown? What a ridiculous thing to say. I trained for a particular career, and very few jobs exist in my hometown for that chosen career. are you saying that we need to limit what we want to do to what is available in our home town or village? or worse everyone should aspire to be a politician? When did I say money is the main thing which makes Wokingham a lovely town? Most of what I refer to relates to crime and aspirations, and respectful people.

alex_f, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 20:07

(Continued from previous comment) "if you really think Wokingham is a miserable place to live, try growing up in Middlesbrough like I did, and in the worst council estate of it in fact. Then you might see things with more perspective. I'm grateful for every day I live in this lovely town." Well I disagree with you on this quote as Wokingham has rising poverty and inequality and is very much heading the way of Middlesbrough. Though let's look at a different scenario for a minute, and let's just say I am wrong and you are right regarding Wokingham having more money than Middlesbrough. This doesn't make Wokingham a lovely town, money doesn't make something lovely, and infact if this is the case that you love being somewhere which you consider has lots of wealth rather than being in your home town then isn't that the selfish view which capitalists hold? I consider you nothing but a traitor to your home town, you chose to abandon your home town for your own benefit while the rest of your folk suffer. Shame on you.

wokinghamworker, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 19:44

alex-f it is registering. It's crystal clear that you don't understand what has caused the economic crisis, and that you don't understand how unfair the society is that we live in. "PS I didn't go into local politics back in Middlesbrough as I had no experience in the real world." Well you have to start somewhere, if you don't start you will never get experience and will never learn.

Companies can run without any form of management, just look at the co-operative, they are a better organisation than what the likes of Tesco's or Starbucks are. Violence and intimadation is everywhere you go, as I have experienced violent threats and intimidation too and guess what, it was in Wokingham, and whenever I have been up north I have never received intimidation and threats of violence.

Please don't think I am ignoring you, because I am not. I take into consideration your views and like I have already said agree someone who works hard should get paid more than a scrounger.

Though I think you are starting to ignore what I am saying, as you ignore the fact that the economical crisis was caused by the capitalist elite making terrible decisions, and you seem to support capitalism even though it is an unfair system.

wokinghamworker, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 19:43

This happened a year ago just down from where my parents live. It was some noble people trying to help local people into employment, efforts wasted. It has nothing to do with the bankers or big businesses. http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2011/10/26/blaze-destroys-grangetown-resource-centre-84229-29663227/

I'd recommend a trip some time to see how bad some things can get outside of cosey Wokingham. It should reset your expectations and perspective.

alex_f, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 18:41

Wokinghamworker - it really isn't registering is it. And you completely ignore what I'm saying, coming from experience. Do you know what also annoys people about politicians? Sitting in ivory towers and pretending to know the truth, making bold cliched statements and then ignoring what people who actually have experience have to say. Dismissing it as you have done several times now, from people who have more experience than themselves.

PS I didn't go into local politics back in Middlesbrough as I had no experience in the real world. Another thing which lets some of our politicians down. If I am ever good enough in the future then maybe I would, but for now I'm simply not good or experienced enough. Plus it doesn't pay the bills (councillor for example) and I'm afraid providing for family comes first.

You make some very sweeping statements too about business and where I come from. I presume you have a massive amount of experience to back all that up and you're able to tell me first hand about how companies can run without any form of management, strategy or leadership. And what it's like getting punched in the face on a regular basis whilst waiting for the school bus, being afraid to leave the house for fear of being chased, seeing my dad being cut all over by burglars. And then seeing a lot of my friends, some of whom were smarter than me, amount to very little in life because of their family environment. Seeing some of them dying before their 20s due to getting in the wrong crowds. If mould in homes was the main worry, then they'd be laughing.

alex_f, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 18:04

@BrotherCane I don't hate people for having a big house or owning an expensive car, as if they've worked for it then fair enough. If, though, like so many of the middle and upper class they haven't worked for it then this just exposes how capitalism doesn't work and that we must change the system.

After all, there is a reason why the working class are called the working class, and this is because in general they work very hard unlike big business owners. As if there weren't owners in businesses then this wouldn't affect the company's performance, as day to day activities would continue as usual under the workers. The only difference there would be is that if there weren't big business owners extra money turned over by the company can be used as surplus value and help to subsidise basic services and goods which we rely on, instead of the big business owners taking absorbent amounts of profits on top of their weekly wage which they haven't worked for.

wokinghamworker, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 16:18

@alex_f Why instead of leaving your family behind and coming to Wokingham did you not stay in Middlesbrough, get involved in the local politics and try to improve the situation there? Also, in answer to your response regarding Wokingham and Middlesbrough, areas like Eustace Crescent in my opinion are very similar to Middlesbrough. I would imagine in Middlesbrough they would have mouldy flats just like in Eustace Crescent, both for the same reasons, council neglect.

"Remember, even someone who has lost their job or is on minimum wage can help their children succeed." This is true, but unfortunately this can't happen with every hard working low income household as because we are in a recession caused by the capitalist elite there is a lack of jobs, and instead of money being invested in jobs it is being invested in bankers bonuses. The solution is to stop bailing out the banks, change the system and rebuild as a nation.

Bankers Bonuses. NO!

Full Employment. Yes!

wokinghamworker, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 16:10

Wokinghamworker - You seem to hold a very cliched political view. As alex_f said, Wokingham really has so many positives as a place to live. And most people in Wokingham are hard working. It all comes down to people taking responsibility, something that's often lacking, and your use of phrases like "brainwashing elite" only add to the 'something for nothing', victim culture held by so many, who feel life owes them something, and detest people for owning a nice car or an expensive home, even if they've worked hard for it.

BrotherCane
26/01/2013 at 14:31

(continued from previous comment)

Don't get me wrong - you do say alot of things which would really resonate with alot of people and myself. However it is how we react to this which we need to be careful about - we can all too easy dwell on how unfair it is that football players get paid so much, or bankers are getting such a massive bonus again, or lazy people who are inheriting wealth - but my view is that this should drive us to make sure our children do as well for themselves in their own way and give them every opportunity to fulfill their own potential, not give us more excuses to not do so.

Remember, even someone who has lost their job or is on minimum wage can help their children succeed. My parents had to live from less than half of what the new benefits cap is set to. It gave them more of a drive to give me every opportunity to make a better life for myself. My dad didn't have the chance to go to University due to an unfortunate bereavement, he made it essentially his life's work to ensure I did have that opportunity, even if it made us fall out on a daily basis, over why I had to do extra homework, why I could only get HiTec trainers and not the latest Nike Airs, why we had to get a 'stupid' computer instead of a holiday abroad.

alex_f, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 14:25

@wokinghamworker - I see your viewpoint, but it doesn't explain why the bankers or the corruption of politicians are an excuse for a parent not teaching a child basic maths, literacy, reading a book together on an evening. Yes these things are hurting the country as a whole (and don't get me wrong - they infuriate me too) but to some people this would drive them even harder to ensure their offspring are best prepared for their lives ahead. To others it appears it is an excuse for not doing what could / should have been done regardless anyway.

Unfortunately even Eustace Crescent is a million miles away from the majority of Middlesbrough. Not in what we unfortunately come to associate with neglected neighbourhoods, but things like opportunities in the area as a whole. Most of my friends joined the Army, less because of wanting to fight for the country, more relating to the fact that there was nothing else to do (though of course I'm very proud of them for doing so and they now do it out of national pride). I had to move away from family and friends to find my career. We on the other hand, have (comparatively!) strong opportunities Reading and London in close proximity. We have good schools and we are officially the best place in the UK to bring up a family. Unemployment, dissatisfaction, job opportunities and average wages in Middlesbrough are on another level to what we consider bad here.

(continued in next comment...)

alex_f, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 14:20

Sorry everyone, in my comment regarding stop blaming the corrupt politicians I meant we would stop blaming them when they stop claiming false expenses which they aren't entitled to. i hope no one got confused.

wokinghamworker, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 13:39

(continued from last comment) I don't exactly think Eustace Crescent is a million miles away from being like the council estate which you grew up on. I can see where you are coming from, people mshould be careful with their finances, and there are people who are wealthy that have worked their way up like yourself. The main problem is, though, the majority of wealthy people have inhereted their wealth while many poor people work very hard but get paid tuppence. As for example, a cleaner who works really hard gets £200 a week, while a footballer who just kicks a ball gets £200,000 a week, where's the justice in that?

wokinghamworker, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 13:36

@alex-f - What you don't seem to understand is that I am not using the elite as a scapegoat, but instead I am speaking my mind and sticking to my principles of what I believe in and what I think is right. The general public are trying their very hardest to take responsibility of their own lives, but the problem is that when we live in a society where there are not jobs for everyone then even if everyone tries their hardest then there will still be millions unemployed, where's the justice in that? Maybe we will all stop blaming the banks when they stop taking absorbently high bonuses which they aren't entitled to, and maybe we will sto blaming the banks when we are no longer forced to bail them out and instead let them pay for their own crisis. Maybe we will all stop blaming the corrupt politicians when they claim false expenses which they aren't entitle to. While with media manipulators, maybe we will stop blaming them when they stop supporting the capitalist pseudo democracy which we live in but instead start to support real democracy.

"try growing up in Middlesbrough like I did, and in the worst council estate of it in fact. Then you might see things with more perspective."

I am not saying that Wokingham is the most neglected part of the country, all I am saying is that Wokingham needs more recognition for the problems there are in the town. For example,

wokinghamworker, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 13:31

@PoneRana - You also made a very good point though in your first comment about admitting some truths. For some reason wokinghamworker seems to again do the (most popular and easiest) thing which has done such damage to this country over the past few decades and directs the blame elsewhere for our own responsibilities. We need to start taking responsibility for our own lives, choices and families and not at every second put the blame on others or the government, or the bankers, whatever the topic of the day is, an all too easy solution which gets us nowhere.

I've seen first hand some less well-off families who have taken responsibility, raising their children to the best of their ability, who are now high-achievers. I've also seen well-off families who have prioritised getting a new car or keeping up their social life above what is best for their children.

And I've also personally experienced it. My parents would have been classed as below such a poverty line but they went without holidays, a new car, social life or any other luxuries to give me the biggest fighting chance at success in this world. Yes I was teased at school for having a clapped out car and having a run down house, but now I see very clearly what they did for me. And I'm thankful every moment for such sacrifices, and wonder why others can't do the same.

wokinghamworker - if you really think Wokingham is a miserable place to live, try growing up in Middlesbrough like I did, and in the worst council estate of it in fact. Then you might see things with more perspective. I'm grateful for every day I live in this lovely town.

alex_f, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 13:11

@PoneRana - in a slight contrast to my previous comment, to some degree I agree with you, perhaps a 20% nature / 80% nurture or similar (though I have no evidence or research to back that up, just finger in the air!). There must be a reason why we constantly see families full of doctors (or other careers requiring top educational credentials without requiring the contacts) and many families in council estates and generations never leaving them. Surely some couldn't be A grade pupils no matter how good their upbringing and how hard they tried, and some would excel regardless of circumstances, as we see in the exceptional cases often pointed out.

alex_f, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 13:09

The reason why a lot of children are not achieving in schools has nothing to do with genetics, it's that they don't get the right support from members of staff to help them succeed in the educational environment. Also, how is me saying that the brainwashing elite are who's to blame is "socialist clap trap", as it is just the truth. The economic crisis we are in today has been caused by the capitalist elite making terrible decisions, and now instead of bankers, corrupt politicians and media manipulators taking the blame they are blaming the crisis on ordinary working people that are just trying to get through day to day life.

wokinghamworker, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 12:42

I did not intend to limit genetic influence to being clever. There are a lot of factors that are influenced by genetics. However many of these do influence the ability of child to produce good results at school.

Of course we can all trot out the list of names who have succeeded despite their genetics, environment etc. We are not talking about the exceptional few but the large numbers who fail to achieve expected results.

As to the brain washing elite (whoever they may be) being responsible for the low performance of children on free meals, that is socialist influenced clap trap.

PoneRana, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 12:30

PoneRana, what genetic influence? How's there evidence for how much money someone has affecting intelligence. Some of the most clever people in human history have been people with very little money, just look at the President of Uruguay Jose Mujica. Your argument is utterly illogical and you are trying to blame ordinary people instead blaming the root cause, and the root cause is the corrupt, brainwashing elite.

wokinghamworker, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 10:04

Wokingham needs to change, and fast. Poverty and inequality are both on the rise, children are given unequal opportunities and I'm afraid to say it, but nowadays Wokingham is a miserable place to live. After a previous survey in 2011 over 7% of Wokingham Borough households live in fuel poverty, while at the same time Borough councillors are claiming over £6000 in expenses even though the people of Wokingham don't want this.

I genuinely think that the majority of local people want a change to the current Council and the current way in which our town is run. All that's wrong with Wokingham in the present day is down to Lib/Lab/Con tyranny, it's time for a change, it's time to join the Contemporary Marxist Party today.

Type the link below in the search engine if you want to, and join the CMP today. Soon the CMP will get active in Wokingham, but we can only save our beloved town together. Divided, Wokingham will be destroyed. United, Wokingham will be saved.

http://www.cmparty.org/forum/

wokinghamworker, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 09:39

I was not denying the effect of environment etc. All I was trying to say is that there is a genetic influence that we must not ignore. Because the effects of environment etc. are mitigated for both children and parents in richer areas like Wokingham, the genetic influence is much stronger.

PoneRana, Wokingham
26/01/2013 at 00:08

Damiano_Tommassi - I've read similarly also. Many studies involving twins have lead to a conclusion that intelligence is often surpressed or allowed to flourish depending on their childhood environment.

We see a distinctly higher proportion of Asians and Chinese flourish, regardless of socioeconomic status, which can no doubt be attributed to how children are raised and the environment in which they are brought up. They are often taught respect (for elders and seniors), have a work ethic from very young, to do their homework and more on top of that, aim to be a doctor or lawyer, learn to play the piano, be multilingual - fundamentals which provide a solid environment for learning and allowing their intellectual ability to develop.

alex_f, Wokingham
25/01/2013 at 15:53

PoneRana,

I have to disagree with the idea that these differences are genetic. Genetics can account for many things, and can account for some difference in cognitive ability; but environment has a much more direct, obvious and profound effect on people.

Poor people can be very intelligent, and rich people can be very stupid.

At the bottom end of society, though, it seems to me that parents don't raise their children as well as others; have lower expectations, and demonstrate fewer admirable qualities to their children. If you don't work, have never worked, swear at the police, are borderline illiterate, smoke, drink and so on, that's what your children see and consider normal; that's what they aspire to become. Some of the children in receipt of free school dinners will be coming from such places, and if they're coming from a household where parents don't believe in education, respect and work, what chance do the little mites have?

Damiano_Tommassi, Wokingham
25/01/2013 at 14:08

It is about time that someone admitted that the poorest of children come from homes where the parents are unqualified. The children of lower ability parents are genetically likely to also to be of lower ability.

In areas of high employment like Wokingham this situation is much more obvious as the lower numbers of children receiving free meals will be more concentrated in lower ability families.

This wider gap is thus just a statement of the inevitable and less likely to be something that can be cured.