The UK government, under the guidance of Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, is preparing to unveil a comprehensive schools white paper that aims to halve the attainment gap between disadvantaged and affluent pupils by the time children born during this parliamentary term complete their secondary education. This announcement comes amid growing concerns about educational inequality in England, particularly as highlighted by the latest GCSE results, which show a significant disadvantage gap index for year 11 students.

The forthcoming white paper will introduce proposed changes to funding criteria for schools, specifically targeting the support provided for the most disadvantaged students. Additionally, it will launch two new initiatives aimed at improving educational performance among disadvantaged pupils in both the North East and coastal areas, regions that have historically faced economic and educational challenges. These measures reflect the government's recognition of the need to address deep-seated inequalities in the education system.

As Secretary Phillipson prepares to face questions from the media, the expected discussions around this topic will likely focus on the effectiveness of these measures and their potential impact on improving educational outcomes for disadvantaged communities. Educators and policymakers alike are watching closely to see if these plans can truly lead to significant improvements in student performance and help to dismantle the barriers faced by lower-income families in accessing quality education.