Overcoming Disadvantage in Education

Stephen Gorard, Beng Huat See

"Governments, local authorities, school leaders, and teachers all over the world want to improve the attainment and participation of all students. They also want to minimise any systematic differences in educational outcomes between social and economic groups. However, considerable effort and money is being wasted on policies, practices and interventions that have very little hope of success, and that may indeed endanger the progress that is being made otherwise. The poor quality of much education research evidence, coupled with an unwillingness among users of evidence to discriminate appropriately between what we know and do not know, means that opportunities are being missed. At a time of reduced public spending and increased public unrest, at least in the UK, it is important that proposed interventions are both effective and efficient. Overcoming Disadvantage in Education is unique...