IWA Annual Education Conference: Poverty and Performance

The link between poverty and lower educational achievement in Wales has been difficult to break. In Wales a child living in poverty will perform over 30% poorer at age 14 than a child not in poverty.

Numerous initiatives have been brought in, but through all of this, how do we know what works?

This year the pupil deprivation grant will be doubled to £918 for every child recieving free school meals. How can we ensure that we get the most out of this money to alleviate the catastrophic effect of poverty on our education system?

On top of the pupil deprivation grant, Schools Challenge Cymru has been recently introduced, a £20 million package that aims to help 40 schools across Wales. How does this fit in with existing strategies for tackling poverty, and what chance does it have of succeeding?

Answering these crucial questions will be an excellent line up of speakers and experts.

Programme of the day

8:45am: Registration and Coffee

9am: A film from the young researchers

9:15am: Assessing the impact of disadvantage.
Meilyr Rowlands and Professor David Reynolds, in conversation with Lee Waters

10am: Tools to do the job. How to make the most of the PDG
Chaired by Mary Powell Chandler of Save the Children.
Panel:
Cerys Furlong, Director, NIACE Cymru
Lizzie Swafield, Wales Centre for Equity in Education
Janet Hayward, Headteacher of Cadoxton Primary School

10:45am: A Q&A session with the Deputy Minister for Tackling Poverty, Vaughan Gething AM.

11:45am: Lessons from a pupil perspective, Dyffryn School, Port Talbot

11:50am: Keynote Speech
Professor Mel Ainscow, Professor of Education and co-director of the Centre for Equity in Education and Chief Adviser to the Greater Manchester Challenge.

12:30pm-1:30pm: Schools Challenge Cymru: What next?

Round table chaired by Gareth Evans

Panelists:

Martin Grimes, Dyffryn School, Port Talbot

Dr Philip Dixon, Director, ATL Cymru

Dr Christopher Howard, Acting Director, NAHT Cymru

1:30pm: Lunch

With further exciting speakers to be confirmed, please call the IWA team on 02920 484 387 to reserve your space or book here.