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Underprivileged children often face significant challenges when it comes to their academic journey and may lack access to essential support systems and resources crucial  for their educational success.  They may lack a conducive learning environment at home. Consequently, these children may struggle to keep up with their peers due to difficulties faced in completing schoolwork.

Without adequate support, underprivileged children may experience a widening achievement gap, leading to long-term consequences for their future prospects. 

In a recently published Social Mobility report* (Holt-White, C. & Cullinane, C., 2023), even high attainers who are disadvantaged are more than twice as likely to fall out of the top third at GCSEs, three times more likely to be a young carer and more likely think that they do not have a chance at life.  Just 5% of disadvantaged high attainers attend grammar schools, compared to 13% of other high attainers.  They are less than half as likely to have a parent with a degree, and four times more likely to live in a single-parent household compared to other high attainers. 

Additionally, disadvantaged high attainers tend to be eligible for Free School  Meals (FSM) for less of their school time than other FSM students,  highlighting the impact of persistent disadvantage on grades.

In terms of progression, Progress 8 is used to measure of progress made between primary school and GCSEs.  Here again, it is notable that disadvantaged high attainers make less progress than the average  student (a third of a grade per subject), and score more similarly to  other Free School Meal students (half a grade less than average),  compared to other high attainers, who progress a third of a grade higher than average (Holt-White, C. & Cullinane, C., 2023).

In order to bridge the achievement gap between privileged and underprivileged children, some, if not all, of the barriers to education have to be eliminated.  Providing free tutoring and homework assistance specifically designed for underprivileged children is one way of doing that.  By offering tailored support, these children can receive individual attention, guidance and clarification on challenging topics and guidance. Tutoring can help bridge the learning gaps, reinforce foundational knowledge and boost their confidence in tackling academic tasks. The report by Holt-White, C. & Cullinane, C., 2023 recommends a national strategy to bridge the attainment gap which has been compounded by the pandemic.

*Holt-White, C. & Cullinane, C., 2023: Social Mobility: The Next Generation - Lost Potential at 16. The Sutton Trust, June 2023.

Minding the Gap Education CIC was founded by Clara Badu Amoah in November 2022 with the aim of providing such bridging support to primary and secondary school children in the Chesham area who struggle with the core subjects in mainstream schooling.  

Clara has witnessed firsthand how disadvantage affects children in later years and is determined to play her part in reducing the impact of such disadvantage.

The project offers an inclusive environment and a safe space where such children feel comfortable asking questions, seeking clarification and receiving personalised feedback. This kind of support can foster a positive attitude towards learning, encourage academic perseverance and ultimately, contributing to bridging the educational gap.

Ultimately, the goal is to raise the aspiration of children from certain backgrounds who lack educational role models at home and to improve their educational outcomes.  By addressing the unique needs of underprivileged children through free tutoring and homework support, we hope that this initiative will go some way in achieving some equitable education system that empowers those children to overcome educational barriers, improve their academic performance and unlock their full potential.

Minding the Gap Education CIC has four Directors who support the project with their skills and expertise: Mrs Clara Badu Amoah, Mrs Pam Peters, Mr. John Badu Amoah and Mr. John Neugebauer.

The project is purely funded by interested organisations and funding bodies such as the Rothschild Foundation who believe in this cause.