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Despite decades of education reform, UK children from disadvantaged backgrounds continue to fall behind their more well-off peers. This ever-widening divide remains one of the most persistent challenges in British education.
Grounded in rich empirical evidence from the National Pupil Database, alongside in-depth analysis of case studies, interviews, and surveys, this book reveals what successful schools are doing to close the achievement gap. It identifies the leadership strategies, data-driven practices, and targeted interventions that make a measurable difference, and offers clear recommendations for policy makers and practitioners seeking lasting solutions to educational disadvantage.
An invaluable resource for academics, policy makers, and school leaders, Tackling Education Inequality demonstrates how evidence-based policy and practice can work together to build a more equitable education system.
“An excellent book exploring inequalities in educational outcomes. The true value lies in the case studies which provide practical strategies for narrowing attainment gaps in schools. Invaluable for policy makers, headteachers and students of education.” Kirstin Lewis, Goldsmiths, University of London
“Feyisa Demie’s research on educational inequalities adds significantly to our understanding of disadvantage in schools, strategies which work and how schools can reduce the attainment gap.” Carl Parsons, Canterbury Christ Church University
“Feyisa Demie’s book provides a very valuable and readable contribution to school effectiveness and improvement literature. It draws together a wealth of evidence on patterns of educational inequality based on decades of research in England and investigates in detail how schools serving diverse and disadvantaged communities have been able to combat inequality. Demie highlights the success factors behind outstanding achievement through case studies of schools that have bucked national trends. This clear account of highly effective strategies for tackling educational inequality and closing the achievement gap will support school leaders and classroom practitioners to provide high-quality educational experiences for all students.” Pamela Sammons, University of Oxford (emeritus)
“Demie spotlights the deep-rooted problem of ‘educational inequality’ in England as experienced by disadvantaged and Black students. More than that, he helps the reader to imagine and consider strategies and practical solutions for addressing this multifaceted problem. The book also provides a welcome shift, away from seeing the individual as the problem, by placing responsibility for fixing the problem of educational inequality for Black students on both educational and policy institutions.” Paul Miller, Institute for Equity, University Centre
“A compelling and authoritative contribution, combining rigorous research with practical insight. This book offers clear, evidence-based strategies to tackle educational inequality. Essential reading for educators, policy makers and researchers worldwide.” Kevin Lowden, University of Glasgow
1. Introduction: Tackling disadvantages and policy concerns
2. Research methods
3. The achievement gap for disadvantaged students
4. Effective leadership and teaching to tackle disadvantage
5. Effective use of data to improve teaching and learning
6. Effective use of pupil voice and feedback
7. Targeted intervention strategies to tackle disadvantage
8. The international experience of tackling the achievement gap for disadvantaged students
9. Summary, conclusions, and lessons to tackle inequality
10. Implications for policy and practice