ABSTRACT
The performance of schools in coastal areas in England continues to attract attention. On average, attainment is lower in coastal schools than in non-coastal schools, with this gap apparent not only at the end of compulsory schooling, but also earlier in the education system. We examine the extent to which this gap can be accounted for by differences in pupil and school characteristics, and whether the gap remains when comparing coastal schools with schools located in non-coastal communities sharing similar area characteristics. We also explore vacancy rates for coastal and non-coastal schools, as a proxy for recruitment issues.
We find that much of the difference in average performance of coastal and non-coastal schools appears to reflect the greater level of deprivation in coastal areas. Yet this does not mean that the attainment of coastal schools is not cause for concern. By providing insight into the context in which coastal schools are operating, this chapter aims to set the scene for further examination of recruitment and retention issues facing coastal schools. Furthermore, the considerable variation in the performance of coastal schools highlights the scope to learn from the experiences of those schools demonstrating better performance despite challenging circumstances.
