You can’t just teach a child out of poverty

One of the most urgent and complex issues schools face today is the deep-rooted impact of poverty on the communities they serve. For school leaders and educators, this isn’t just about data, it’s about real lives, and the daily reality of hardship affecting pupils and families.

The challenges of poverty extend well beyond the school gates. It influences everything from children’s learning experiences to their long-term life chances, often reinforcing cycles of inequality that are difficult to break.

But poverty and inequality do not have to be an inevitable part of the story we write in schools and communities.

Practice to Page

In Tackling Poverty and Disadvantage in Schools, we set out to create more than just another education book. 

This is a collaborative guide, designed to support busy educators and stretched school leaders with practical tools and real-world strategies to help dismantle the complexity of inequality.

It reflects the voices of those working at the frontline, educators, leaders, and organisations who know what it means to walk within communities facing adversity.

This book is built on shared experience. It’s by the sector, for the sector, and with the sector.

It also challenges the rhetoric that the only or best way to tackle inequality is through excellent teaching alone. 

‘While research consistently highlights the importance of high-quality teaching, policy and practice too often lean on this narrative to imply that a great teacher alone can overcome deep-rooted inequality. In reality, the schools making meaningful strides in addressing disadvantage recognise that delivering education in their communities requires a far more nuanced and holistic approach.’

Sean Harris: co-author

Director of PLACE (People, Learning and Community Engagement) at Tees Valley Education

No egos, no silos

What makes this project distinct is its collective approach. We brought together perspectives from across the UK and beyond: educators, researchers, policymakers, and thought leaders who are tackling educational inequality every day.

Each contributor brings school-based insight, evidence-informed thinking, and grounded practices. From making classrooms more inclusive and curriculum more equitable, to fostering a culture of social justice across whole-school systems, the book is packed with adaptable and proven strategies. 

‘Schools alone are not the solution to tackling inequality, but they are an essential part of it. That’s why it was vital for this book to be shaped by the expertise and lived experiences of schools and organisations that are actively driving change. True progress comes through collaboration. Only by working together can we begin to understand and address the complex, enduring nature of disadvantage.’

Katrina Morley OBE

Co-author and CEO of Tees Valley Education

And let us be clear: while schools play a vital role in addressing disadvantage, they cannot do it alone. Education is only one component part of system change.

Optimism included

This book arrives at a critical moment. 

Schools are contending with the lingering effects of COVID-19, the rising cost of living, and increasing poverty-related barriers to learning. We wanted to offer something constructive: a resource that doesn’t just highlight the issues, but offers a roadmap for making a difference.

The book has been written with busy leaders and educators in mind. We wanted to help educators foster environments where every child feels seen, supported, and capable of thriving, no matter their background.

Using the book

We know there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Schools are diverse, complex places where staff face many competing demands. That’s why we designed this book to be both accessible and flexible.

The content is organised around three core themes:

• Whole-school approaches (e.g. leadership and school culture)
• Classroom practices (e.g. including teaching methods and curriculum design)
• Wider interventions (e.g. mentoring, family support, and industry partnerships)

These strands provide different entry points, depending on where your school is in its journey. Whether you’re a new or established teacher looking for classroom ideas or a senior leader seeking systemic change, we hope this book meets you where you are.

Each chapter follows a consistent and easy-to-navigate format:

Research Recap: We summarise key studies and evidence that help contextualise the topic. It’s rigorous but digestible, with signposts for further reading if you want to go deeper.

Case Studies: Real examples from schools and organisations that have put theory into action. These are not silver-bullets but grounded insights from practitioners who’ve tested and refined their approaches.

Reflection: Tools and activities for applying the ideas in your own setting. These can be used individually or with your team. Plus, we’ve included access to an online hub with templates, planning guides, and reflection exercises to keep the work going beyond the page.

Each chapter also ends with concise takeaway points—perfect for sharing over a quick chat with a colleague (caffeine optional, but encouraged!).

Professional generosity 

What truly sets this project apart is the generosity and dedication of our contributors. Everyone involved has donated their time and waived royalties. Profits from the book will go directly to supporting initiatives that benefit children and young people living in poverty, through our work with Tees Valley Education.

This spirit of collaboration and shared purpose is at the heart of everything we’ve created here.

We didn’t want to produce another title that simply restates how hard things are or overcomplicates the problem. Instead, we focused on creating a useful, empowering, and hopeful resource for professionals in education.

Importantly, we’ve also been careful to approach the topic with dignity and respect. Children and young people facing poverty are not “problems” to be fixed. The real challenge lies in the systems and structures that make life harder for them. It’s those systems we must work to change—and we believe schools can be powerful agents in that process.

We hope Tackling Poverty and Disadvantage in Schools contributes something meaningful to the ongoing conversation about equity and education. Our thanks go to every school, leader, and educator who continues to show up, innovate, and stand with their communities.