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.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 106 other subscribers