ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book presents the strongest and most up-to-date evidence so far on how funding can be best deployed to improve schooling and narrow the disadvantage attainment gap. It is about several linked problems in compulsory education, which have potentially lifelong impacts. The book presents findings on the implementation, success, failure and impact of government funding initiatives of all of these kinds in helping to overcome educational disadvantage. It establishes the importance of addressing the poorer educational outcomes of disadvantaged students, and why this is a matter of worldwide justice as well as efficacy. The book focuses on a specific cash transfer policy in England – Pupil Premium funding, and also presents key consolidated findings from our Pupil Premium policy evaluation. It looks at changes in socio-economic segregation between schools, and the extent of clustering of poorer children in specific schools since 1989.
