Resonding to the announcement of measures in the Schools White Paper which aim to halve the disadvantage gap by the time children born under the current government finish secondary school, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said

“The changes to how disadvantage funding is allocated are potentially sensible ones, that should see those children most in need receiving the most support.

"Removing the demand for families to apply for free school meals if they qualify in order to be eligible for deprivation funding is something NAHT has long called for, that should help eliminate the barriers of stigma and reduce admin for schools.”