Government ‘failing deaf children’ as grades fall behind hearing classmates

Deaf children are falling a whole grade behind their hearing classmates, prompting a charity to warn of a “lost generation”. The National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) analysis of government data, found that the average GCSE grade for deaf children is 3.9, which used to be known as a grade D. For a child without special educational needs or a disability, the average grade is 5 – a strong C under the old system. Councils are facing a colossal shortfall in SEND funding, and the Local Government Association (LGA) has repeatedly issued warnings on the impact. The LGA has estimated the shortfall could amount to £1.6bn by 2021. NDCS chief executive Susan Daniels warned it would take more than two decades to close the attainment gap, adding: “The government is starving local councils of funding, meaning their support is cut back and their specialist teachers are being laid off”. Deafness is not a learning disability, but deaf children are still falling a whole grade behind their classmates. Read more.