Breaking the cycle

Drawing on in-depth interviews with our ambassador network and partner schools - school leaders and classroom teachers on the frontline of educational change - as well as large-scale surveys of teachers and parents, this report presents both urgent calls and exemplary case studies of what can be achieved.

With the Government’s Child Poverty Strategy due to be published this autumn and the Spending Review next week, the report offers evidence-based recommendations that, if implemented, could help end educational inequality and ensure every child has the chance to thrive.

The Government’s plans for the Child Poverty Strategy identify that alongside raising incomes, reducing essential costs, and increasing financial resilience, we need public services (such as schools) which tackle the impacts of poverty. Our report highlights the outstanding work many schools are already doing in this area - often despite significant funding and resource challenges - and sets out how the Government can better support and scale these efforts through policy change.

What we found

Across the country, schools are doing exceptional work to deliver the high-quality education and life chances all children deserve - regardless of background. The report features multiple case studies of schools that are going above and beyond to support pupils facing disadvantage.

But we also heard a consistent message: they cannot do it alone. Schools are expected to do far more than they have the resources to provide. Too many children are still being let down by systems that fail to recognise or respond to the realities of poverty.

What needs to change

To truly break the cycle of disadvantage, we are calling on government to take urgent action:

• Introduce auto-enrolment for free school meals
  Many families are unaware of their child’s eligibility, meaning thousands miss out on vital support. Automatic enrolment would ensure all eligible pupils receive the funding they deserve.
• Increase the pupil premium thresholds to reflect the reality of hardship today
  Currently schools only receive pupil premium funding for children whose families have a household income of below £7,400. Pupil premium should be extended to all children eligible for free school meals.
• Remove the two-child benefit limit
  Schools told us of families unable to afford food, uniforms, or basic essentials. Removing this policy would lift many children out of deep poverty.

The evidence is clear: schools are stepping up - but they need systemic support.

This report is a call to action for policymakers to match the determination of our schools with bold, practical reforms. Together, we can break the cycle of disadvantage and ensure every child - regardless of their background - has the opportunity to succeed.