Cllr Ash today shared thoughts on a new report from the Education Policy Institute (EPI) commissioned by the Government which indicates the potential impact in financial earning terms for current pupils if no catch up support were to take place. 

Funding for education is always welcome, and education is always a good investment but whilst the Government considers the forthcoming spending review she shared that it could be an easy mistake to confusion an increase in £ with an increase in outcomes especially during a time where our National general government gross debt is over 100% at 106% of GDP, the highest since the early post war era. 

She shared an example of an excellent low cost, high impact model of Invicta National Academy www.invictaacademy.com which has seen children develop by as much as a grade at GCSE after additional online lessons over half terms and the school holidays. Pupils in Oxfordshire have already benefitted from thousands of free lessons and she is calling on the County Council to implement an ongoing programme in line with Government spending for the next four years to support all, but particularly our most disadvantaged pupils.

Cllr Ash said: " All our children have the innate capability to learn. It is about providing them with the right environment to do that and they will be able to catch up and reach their potential with a focus from our dedicated teachers, their parents and help from the £3.1 billion in Covid catch up funding and any additional support provided by The Government that comes from this review. "