Deaf children in the East achieve an entire GCSE grade less than their hearing classmates
That's according to the National Deaf Children’s Society
New analysis of 2020’s GCSE results shows that the average score for deaf pupils in the region was a grade 4, compared to a grade 5 for their hearing classmates.
This was the largest gap in the country between the two groups with the best performance in the South East.
There are more than 4,500 deaf children in the region, most of whom attend mainstream schools.
Those in Year 11 last year were assessed by their teachers after GCSEs were cancelled due to Covid-19.
The charity said deafness is not a learning disability and the figures clearly show they aren’t getting the support needed.
They added that many deaf students and their classroom teachers need access to specialist staff, such as Teachers of the Deaf, to succeed at school. Over the last six years however, one in ten Teachers of the Deaf have been cut nationally, with their numbers falling from 995 to 903.
The charity are now calling on the Department for Education to introduce a bursary to train hundreds more specialist teachers to replace those who have been lost, giving deaf children the chance to access crucial one-on-one support.
They also wants local councils to give schools everything they need to provide deaf children with the same chance to succeed as their hearing classmates.
Martin Thacker, Deputy Director of the National Deaf Children’s Society, said:
“The latest GCSE results are yet more evidence that thousands of deaf children across the country simply aren’t getting the support they need.
“On a local level, we know that councils have faced an unprecedented year and many are still recovering. However, with deaf children back in school and facing a mountain to climb just to catch up, there’s no time to waste.
“Schools will need help, guidance and resources to introduce deaf-friendly catch-up lessons and reinstate the support deaf children rely on, so it’s up to councils to step up and deliver.
“By introducing tailored support as soon as possible, we can make sure every deaf child in the East of England gets the chance to shine.”