Research Article
The Impact of Leadership and Targeted Interventions to Close the Achievement Gap of Disadvantaged Pupils: A Case Study

Feyisa Demie

614 319

Article Metrics

Views

 

614

Downloads

 

319

Citations

Crossref

0


Demie. The impact of leadership and targeted interventions to close the achievement gap of disadvantaged pupils: a case study. European J Ed Manage. 2021;4(2):97-108. doi: 10.12973/eujem.4.2.97
Demie, F. (2021). The impact of leadership and targeted interventions to close the achievement gap of disadvantaged pupils: a case study. European Journal of Educational Management, 4(2), 97-108. https://doi.org/10.12973/eujem.4.2.97
Demie Feyisa. "The Impact of Leadership and Targeted Interventions to Close the Achievement Gap of Disadvantaged Pupils: A Case Study," European Journal of Educational Management 4, no. 2 (2021): 97-108. https://doi.org/10.12973/eujem.4.2.97
Demie, 2021, 'The impact of leadership and targeted interventions to close the achievement gap of disadvantaged pupils: a case study', European Journal of Educational Management, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 97-108. Demie, Feyisa. "The Impact of Leadership and Targeted Interventions to Close the Achievement Gap of Disadvantaged Pupils: A Case Study." European Journal of Educational Management, vol. 4, no. 2, 2021, pp. 97-108, https://doi.org/10.12973/eujem.4.2.97.

Abstract

This research explores the impact of effective leadership and targeted interventions in closing the achievement gap of disadvantaged pupils in primary schools. Findings suggest that the case study schools use effective school leaders and a range of targeted interventions including early intervention, small group additional teaching, one-to-one tuition, peer tutoring, parental involvement, booster class, mastery learning, pastoral care, and enrichment programmes. Each of the above success factors and intervention strategies was explored in detail in the paper. The overall conclusions of this study are that the case study schools have closed the achievement gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers through providing effective school leaders and the use of a range of effective intervention strategies. We would suggest that the case study schools’ stories of how they have closed the achievement gap through providing strong school leaders and the use of targeted interventions are of local and national significance. Our research also suggests the possibilities for further research. The recommendations from the study are that there is a need to replicate and expand this research with a larger sample of the study, in order to explore in detail what works in schools.

Keywords: Achievement gap, disadvantaged pupils, effective leadership, pupil premium, targeted interventions strategy.


References

Campbell, C. (2020). Educational equity in Canada: the case of Ontario’s strategies and actions to advance excellence and equity for students. School Leadership & Management. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2019.1709165

Cassen, R., & Kingdon, G. (2007). Tackling low educational achievement. Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2007). Research methods in education. Routledge Falmer.

Clifton, J., & Cook, W. (2012). A long division: Closing the attainment gap in England's secondary schools. Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).

Demie, F. (2018a). closing the achievement gap for disadvantaged pupils in schools: Research project brief. Lambeth School Research and Statistics Unit. https://bit.ly/3wrMnhR

Demie, F. (2018b, July 3). What does data and research tell us about closing the achievement gap for disadvantaged pupils? [Paper presentation]. Closing the Achievement Gap National Conference, UCL Institute of Education, London, UK.

Demie, F. (2018c). Narrowing the achievement gap for disadvantaged pupils. Lambeth. https://bit.ly/3bUF3BP

Demie, F. (2019a). Educational Inequality: Closing the gap. UCL IOE press. https://bit.ly/2ZY04ZY

Demie, F. (2019b). Raising achievement of black Caribbean pupils: good practice for developing leadership capacity and workforce diversity in schools. School Leadership & Management, 39(1), 5-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2018.1442324

Demie, F. (2020). What works in driving school improvement? Lambeth School Research and Statistics Unit. https://bit.ly/3o4G8wT

Demie, F., & Mclean, C. (2016). Tackling disadvantage: what works in narrowing the achievement gap in schools. Review of Education, 3(2),138-174.

Demie, F., & Mclean, C. (2019). Tackling educational disadvantage: What works in schools. Schools Research and Statistics, Lambeth LA.

Department for Children, Schools and Families. (2008). The Extra Mile: How schools succeed in raising aspiration in deprived communities. https://bit.ly/3CSBw31

Department for Education. (2014). Pupil Premium: Information for schools. https://bit.ly/3BZew1a

Department for Education. (2015). Supporting the attainment of disadvantaged pupils: articulating success and good practice research report. https://bit.ly/3bLxCNq

Department for Education. (2019). National curriculum assessment at key stage 2.  https://bit.ly/3C7nucJ

Education Endowment Foundation. (2019). Teaching and learning tool kit. https://bit.ly/3kcxP0G

Gorard, S. (2018). Education policy: Evidence of equity and effectiveness. Bristol Policy Press.

Hutchinson, J., Bonetti, S., Crenna-Jennings, W., & Akhal, A. (2019). Education in England: Annual Report 2019. Education Policy Institute. https://bit.ly/3ETGflu

Mongon, D., & Chapman, C. (2008). Successful leadership for promoting the achievement of white working class pupils. National College of School Leadership.

Morris, R., & Dobson, G. (2020). Spending the pupil premium: What influences leaders’ decision-making? Educational Management Administration and Leadership, 49(2), 284-302. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143220905062 

Mortimore, P., & Whitty, G. (1997). Can school improvement overcome the effects of disadvantage? Institute of Education, University of London.

Ofsted. (2009). Twenty outstanding primary schools: Excelling against the odds. https://bit.ly/3CTimtT 

Ofsted. (2013). The Pupil Premium: How schools are spending the funding successfully to maximise achievement. https://bit.ly/3wpv6Gj