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Society needs to act to help white working-class pupils, inquiry says
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- An independent inquiry co-chaired by Baroness Morris has called for action across society to improve educational outcomes for white working-class children, highlighting systemic failures in the current education system.
- The inquiry's next phase will focus on early years and teenagers aged 14 to 19, aiming to strengthen primary education foundations and create clearer pathways into further study and employment.
- Education Secretary Lucy Powell supports the inquiry's work to identify and address barriers preventing white working-class children from succeeding at every stage of their education.
- The inquiry, commissioned by Star Academies and supported by the Department for Education, analyzed data from 1.25 million white British pupils on free school meals but acknowledges the scale of disadvantage is likely larger.
- This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s recent plans to introduce new technical education routes from age 14 to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET).
