Top schools slammed for ‘appallingly’ low intake of Send pupils: ‘It’s a disgrace’

England’s top secondary schools admit significantly fewer disadvantaged students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) than their average counterparts, a new report reveals.

The charity Sutton Trust found that top 500 secondary schools had around half the proportion of disadvantaged Send students seen in typical comprehensive schools.

This disparity is further highlighted by a survey where two fifths (41%) of school leaders believe some institutions in their area actively discourage applications from students from Send.

The findings come as the government introduces sweeping reforms aimed at encouraging greater inclusion of Posted pupils in mainstream education.

Nick Harrison, chief executive of the Sutton Trust, said it was “appalling” that many of the top-performing schools were accepting fewer Sent students than those living in their catchment area.

“This means greater social segregation in the school system and risks reinforcing the double disadvantage faced by low-income families whose children also have Sending needs,” he said.

“In many cases schools appear to actively discourage applications from Send students.

“But we must recognize the complex web of evaluations and incentives and long-term underfunding that prevent school leaders from taking bolder action on inclusion.

“This needs to change if the government is to deliver on its ambition to create more inclusive schools.

“Too many young people are currently not getting the support they need locally and it is a disgrace.”

The research suggested that the 500 state secondary schools with the best progress outcomes for pupils received, on average, 5.1 per cent fewer pupils eligible for free school meals than those living in their catchment area.

The Sutton Trust said it had an average of 14.8 per cent of students receiving Send support, compared to an average of 17.6 per cent for the same 500 schools.

Top-performing schools received, on average, 1.1 percentage points fewer students in Send support than their catchment areas.

But for students from Send who have Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), the gap has narrowed.

The average school had 5.6 per cent of pupils who received both Send support and were eligible for free school meals.

Despite this, the Sutton Trust said an average of 3.6 per cent of pupils in the best schools for progress met this definition, compared to 4.9 per cent in its catchment areas.

The Sutton Trust survey, carried out by Teacher Tapp of more than 2,200 senior school leaders in both primary and secondary schools, found that almost a third (32 per cent) thought parents’ perceptions of a school’s approach to behavior explained different reception for Send pupils.

Almost two-thirds (63 percent) said reputation for the quality of the Shipping service played a role in uptake.

The research, which draws on the National Pupil Database, found that 71 per cent of the top 500 schools with a gap in intake of pupils eligible for free school meals also had a gap in pupils receiving Send-in support.

The Sutton Trust is calling on the government to address issues that deter schools from accepting more children from Send and poorer backgrounds by shifting responsibility for schools away from Ofsted and league tables.

Announcing the government’s reforms to the Send system last month, Education Minister Bridget Phillipson promised that Send children would also be included in the system.

Schools, colleges and pre-school education providers will receive £1.6bn over three years to help them provide support to Send Children.

And new Ofsted report cards will assess the attendance of disadvantaged children and children with Send as part of an inspection.

Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver told the Association of School and College Leaders’ annual conference earlier this month that Ofsted would identify the contextual challenges faced by schools.

But he added that he would never downplay its “disappointing outcomes” for disadvantaged children and said Ofsted would “never succumb to the silent curse of low expectations”.