An international charity is calling on people in Bristol to write to election candidates asking them to address a “scandalous” gap in children’s education.

Save the Children says it is “unacceptable” that poverty continues to be a key determining factor in how well a child will do at school.

Citing the latest GCSE results which reveal that only 17% of the poorest children in Bristol managed five good GCSE passes compared to 45% of their better-off classmates, the charity says breaking the link between poverty and low achievement must be a top priority for schools and the Government.

Fergus Drake, Save the Children’s Director of UK Programmes, said: “Poverty kills childhood and severely damages prospects. Many of the UK’s poorest children live in substandard housing, have fewer books and educational games at home, lower aspirations and less confidence in their own ability to achieve their dreams.

“They often have families who desperately want them to do well at school but who – partly due to their own negative educational experiences – lack the confidence to support their children’s learning. Without this support, poorer children don’t get the head-start and advantages enjoyed by their better-off classmates.

“It is unacceptable that poverty continues to be a key determining factor in how well a child will do at school. Coming from a poorer home shouldn’t reduce your chances of getting decent GCSE results yet at every stage of school children from poorer backgrounds do far worse then their better off classmates.”

In January, Bristol reported that its schools reached the milestone of 40% of students gaining five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C.

At the time, Strategic Director for Children, Young People and Skills Annie Hudson said the results were a testament to the city’s efforts to “drive up ambition and achievement”.

Last night, councillors backed the need for more primary and secondary school places, and called for more work to be done to move forward with the St Ursula’s proposal to move from the independent sector to Academy status.

Strategic Director for Children, Young People and Skills, Annie Hudson, said: “The need for more school places in north Bristol is a concern to parents and pupils. I can reassure them that the City Council understands these concerns and is working hard to create more places in the next few years to meet this demand.

“Councillors from all parties last night agreed that the St Ursula’s proposal is one opportunity, which needs to move forward as a matter of urgency. The key is to establish whether the existing school, and the site itself, would provide sufficient places for their ambition to be an Academy catering for pupils at primary and secondary levels.”

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