Born in the wrong place for good schools? 在英國想上好學校要生對地方？

文字稿

英國教育政策研究所發佈的一項最新報告稱，在英格蘭，地理位置的劃分對接受好學校教育機會的影響越來越明顯。2010年到2015年間，在倫敦接受中學教育的學生取得學業進步的可能性最大。請看以下報道。

This research suggests that London is taking an increasing share of the secondary schools where pupils make the most progress. But places such as Blackpool and Hartlepool (in the north of England) are being left even further behind as debates about social mobility increasingly focus on regional differences.

The study says deprived areas of London can have more high-performing schools than better-off areas outside the capital. David Laws, the think tank’s chair and a former education minister, said the widening inequality was “shocking“.

But the Department for Education said that its investments in disadvantaged areas would help to spread opportunities more evenly across the country.

該研究顯示，英國一些中學能培養出學業進步出眾的學生，而位於倫敦的這類學校正占有越來越高的比例。然而，在英格蘭北部的佈萊克浦以及哈特利浦等地，其中學的教育水平則愈發被甩在後面。與此同時，有關社會流動性的爭論正日益著眼於地域間的差異。

這項研究稱，即使是在倫敦的貧困地區，升學率高的學校數量也可能多於倫敦以外富裕地區此類學校的數量。該智囊團主席及前教育部官員大衛∙勞斯（David Laws）說，這一日益加深的不平等現象“令人震驚”。

但英國教育部稱，政府在貧困地區的投資將有助於更加均勻地分佈全國各地的教育機會。

詞匯表

suggests 顯示，意味著
secondary schools 中學
debates 討論，爭論
social mobility 社會流動性
regional differences 地區差異
deprived 貧困的
better-off 經濟狀況好的
shocking 驚人的，特別糟糕的
disadvantaged 貧困的，處於不利位置的
spread（使）擴散

測驗

請聽報道並回答下列問題。

1. According to this research, in which area are school children likely to have a better chance of making significant progress?

2. Do poorer areas of London have more high-performing schools than in some more affluent areas of England?

3. True or false? David Laws feels the inequality between different regions of the UK is a good thing.

4. What is the Department for Education doing to equal out the differences across the country?

答案

1. According to this research, in which area are school children likely to have a better chance of making significant progress?
This research suggests that London is taking an increasing share of the secondary schools where pupils make the most progress.

2. Do poorer areas of London have more high-performing schools than in some more affluent areas of England?
Yes. The study says deprived areas of London can have more high-performing schools than better-off areas outside the capital.

3. True or false? David Laws feels the inequality between different regions of the UK is a good thing.
False. He says the widening inequality was “shocking”.

4. What is the Department for Education doing to equal out the differences across the country?
It is investing in disadvantaged areas to help spread opportunities more evenly across the country.