Looking ahead: CPAG briefing on the schools white paper 2026

'Every child achieving and thriving', the government’s schools white paper, sets out planned reforms to the education system in England that will take place over the coming years, with the central aim of making school work better for more children, including those too often on the margins.

Our briefing on the white paper, 'Looking ahead: tackling the poverty-related attainment gap', outlines CPAG’s analysis of what an inclusive education system would look like for children and families living in poverty, including the action required both inside and outside the school gates. We explore the extent to which policies laid out in the white paper help to further this agenda and what more is needed for children in households without much money to thrive at school.

While some of the proposed changes have an inherent value and present a welcome shift towards a more child-centered education system, government will only meet its ambitions to reduce disadvantage at school by tackling the issue of child poverty square on. That will require action to support family income rather than focusing solely on changes that can be made in schools. 

Our briefing covers:

• the importance of ensuring childhoods are free of poverty
• creating poverty-sensitive schools
• addressing the poverty-related attainment gap
• the changes to disadvantaged funding
• tackling disadvantage through place-based change
• the intersection of SEND and poverty
• working alongside parents
• enrichment at school
• pupil voice and belonging at school