LEARN - Longitudinal educational achievements: Reducing inequalities

Europe is home to some of the most highly educated societies in the world. However, deep inequalities in education remain both within and between countries in Europe. Inequalities in learning outcomes, access to education, and final educational attainment in Europe have been worsening. It is important to understand how socio-economic status, gender, ethnic, and migrant status are associated with inequalities over the life-course. For this a longitudinal approach is needed and project LEARN (Longitudinal Educational Achievements: Reducing iNequalities) will highlight short-, medium-, and long-term patterns of inequalities with a view to supporting educational policymaking in being able to robustly address these inequalities with interventions which are evidence based. Using a case study approach in nine carefully selected countries which capture the diversity of Europe’s education systems, LEARN will map and collect existing data providing original analysis of a range of high-quality education focused longitudinal educational data sets across Europe. LEARN will identify interventions that compensate educational inequalities by providing a synthesis of existing work across Europe examining specific trends in educational inequalities and interventions intended to reduce them. LEARN will then go on to develop tools for policymakers related to the findings of longitudinal analysis which support them in the policy making process. Through improving the evidence base for education policy making, the positive impact of LEARN is likely to be felt for decades to come.