Ministers to outline plans to halve England's school attainment gap.

The government will publish a schools white paper proposing changes to how disadvantage funding is allocated, aimed at halving the attainment gap between poorer and wealthier pupils.

Ministers will publish a schools white paper setting out proposals aimed at halving the attainment gap between the poorest pupils in England and their wealthier peers. The paper proposes changing the criteria for disadvantage funding so it gives greater weight to family income rather than relying solely on free school meals eligibility. The plan also includes reforms to special educational needs provision, new regional programmes and measures on attendance and school governance. Government sources say any change to the total funding pot would be determined at the next spending review. Key points: - The white paper proposes shifting disadvantage funding from a free school meals basis toward arrangements weighted by family income. - Labour highlighted current figures showing 44% of pupils on free school meals achieve a grade 4 pass or above in GCSE English and maths, compared with 70% of other pupils. - Disadvantage funding currently totals about £8bn a year, and any increase to that sum is not guaranteed and would be set at the next spending review. - The proposals include allowing local authorities to administer groups of schools through their own multiacademy trusts and setting new minimum expectations for parental engagement. - The paper outlines a SEND overhaul that would give every child with SEND an individual support plan, and some MPs have raised concerns about whether parents would retain rights of appeal. - It also proposes two regional programmes called Mission North East and Mission Coastal, new attendance targets intended to recover lost school days, and pay rises for newly appointed headteachers of up to £15,000. Summary: The white paper brings a package of reforms focused on how disadvantage funding is targeted, support for pupils with SEND, and regional and attendance initiatives. Government sources say the overall funding total would be decided at the next spending review. Publication is due on Monday and ministers say further details will follow.