Massive improvement in school performances

There has been a huge improvement in results for students in disadvantaged primary schools.

 

New data from the Department of Education found that children in Delivering Equality Schools (DEIS), are performing better in maths and reading than they did six years ago.

 

According to a new report, gains are especially evident among students in junior classes, with their attendance levels improving significantly over the same period of time.  

 

The DEIS programme was established around 2006, with the aim of providing additional resources and extra support to schools in disadvantaged areas.

 

Children in 120 DEIS schools were examined for the study carried out by the Educational Research Centre. It was found that 22% of pupils in DEIS schools were regarded as being low achievers in their reading scores in 2007, but by 2012, this number was halved and is now very close to the national average of 10%.

 

The same applies for students who were once classified as weak candidates for maths.

 

Although the findings are positive, according to the ERC, “it cannot be certain that the improvements are due to participation” in the DEIS programme, instead it could be a reflection of a general improvement across the country.