Market forces undermine healthy social mix, says don
03 February 2010
Schools should receive financial incentives from the Government to take in the full ability range of students living in the capital, a leading London academic proposed last night. In addition, the sum allocated to schools to tackle social disadvantage should be significantly increased, said Professor Kathryn Riley, director of the London Education Research Unit (LERU) at the Institute of Education.
She made clear that at a time of potential cuts, such spending should be a priority.
"Increasing these financial incentives would create a social mix across schools; help target resources to schools taking young people with the greatest social need; widen aspirations; and given the redistribution of resources, make schools which carry more than their share of challenges more attractive to middle class parents," she told an audience on Tuesday (February 2) at the IOE.
At a time of growing concern about political extremism and racial division, statistics analysed by LERU and other research by Professor Riley show that young Londoners who live in racially mixed areas or who attend schools with diverse populations are more likely to value that cultural mix.
However, "class and ethnic divisions between communities have grown across London's schools in recent years," said Professor Riley. She attributed this to market forces, the way parental choice is operated and "the division between specialist and non-specialist schools with the latter taking more students eligible for free school meals".
She said, "We know that young people enjoy London as a diverse city. We know that their appreciation of diversity increases in relation to their contacts with different groups; in their schools and in their localities, particularly in our social housing."
She continued: "It is naïve to argue that we can get rid of the notion of choice within our London system, or the multiplicity of schools… However, we currently have a schooling system that facilitates separation and social segregation rather than encouraging and enabling social diversity."
To serve young Londoners as well as possible, the system would have to do more to develop "pan-London thinking", while also recognising the distinctiveness of different areas. "In today's current climate, not all young people think that London belongs to them. If London is to grow and develop its potential as a global city, we will need to create a 'buy-in' for all."
This meant building on the ideas and qualities that London's young people brought into school. "Knowing more about the views, perceptions and experiences of London's young people is critical to our future," she said.
Notes
1. Professor Riley was giving her professorial address as the new director of LERU, London Lives: Are London's Schools Meeting the Needs of Today's Children and Young People?
2. IOE press office: Diane Hofkins, interim press officer, 020 7911 5423, d.hofkins@ioe.ac.uk
3. The Institute of Education is a college of the University of London, specialising in teaching, research and consultancy in education and related areas of social science and professional practice. Last year's Research Assessment Exercise judged almost two-thirds of the work submitted by the IOE was internationally significant, and 35 per cent was regarded as "world leading". The IOE is a member of the 1994 group.
