More funding sought for students who lag in achievement

Extra funding should be spent directly on pupils who slip behind expected levels of achievement at the age of 11 to help them close the gap between them and higher achieving children, a group of British education advocates said July 10. New Vision Group suggested some of the cash should come from surpluses built up by schools with more advantaged pupils. More financial incentives to schools in the form of grants to help the lowest-performing pupils should only go to "inclusive schools." These would be determined by, for example, low exclusion rates, progress of vulnerable groups and pupils with special needs. Read more at The Guardian Unlimited.