Enabling every child to fulfill his or her potential is at the heart of the Government's drive to raise school standards. Many young people from minority ethnic backgrounds achieve at the highest level but for pupils from some minority ethnic groups, the gaps remain unacceptably wide. 

At present, Gypsy/Roma pupils and pupils of Irish Traveller heritage (GRT) are among the lowest-achieving groups at every Key Stage of education, although individual GRT pupils can and do achieve very well. 

Attainment gaps are a complex issue and the underperformance of GRT pupils may be due to a combination of factors, including financial deprivation, low levels of parental literacy and aspiration for their children’s academic achievement, poor attendance and bullying.

We know that there is a particularly strong link between deprivation and underachievement and in primary schools, 43.2 per cent of all registered pupils registered as either Gypsy, Roma or Irish Traveller are currently eligible for free school meals; this figure rises to 45.3 per cent in secondary schools and 57.5 per cent in special schools. Those pupils who are eligible for free school meals will benefit directly from the Pupil Premium, which is providing an additional £430 per pupil from April 2011 to help raise their attainment. They may also benefit from the £125m Education Endowment Fund, which will fund bold and innovative approaches to raising the attainment of disadvantaged children in underperforming schools. 

Ministerial working group report on tackling inequalities experienced by Gypsies and Travellers

On 4 April 2012, the Department published a ministerial working group report containing 28 measures from across Government designed to improve outcomes for the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.

Commitments outlined in the report include:

  • piloting a virtual headteacher who will champion the interests of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils across their local authority and respond to issues of low attainment and attendance
  • promoting improved health outcomes for Gypsies and Travellers within the proposed new structures of the NHS
  • working to build on our support for authorised sites that have the backing of the local community, through £60 million Traveller Pitch Funding and the New Homes Bonus to match monies raised through council tax. Both the settled and travelling communities will benefit from such an approach
  • improving knowledge of how Gypsies and Travellers engage with employment services
  • preventing hate crime, increasing reporting of incidents and challenging the attitudes that underpin it; and
  • ensuring access to appropriate rehabilitation activities in prison and on probation.