Schools system 'lets down poor boys'
Updated on 27 November 2009
Thousands of Britain's most vulnerable children are being let down by the education system, particularly white and Caribbean boys from low-income communities, according to a new study.
The report, by the right-wing Centre for Policy Studies, is based on a year of interviews with young people, parents and teachers. It reveals -
- Only 6 per cent of white boys entitled to free school meals and 16 per cent of all Caribbean boys go on to further education
- More than one in five 14-year-old boys has a reading age of nine or less. 63 per cent of white working class boys and 54 per cent of black working class boys are unable to read and write properly at 14
- 48 per cent of the prison population has a reading ability below that expected of an 11-year-old
- Youngsters from disadvantaged homes are five times more likely to fail to get five good GCSE grades than those from affluent backgrounds
The study reveals that many of the young men themselves have given up on ever achieving a legitimate job. It cites the example of Tuggy Tug, a 15-year-old from Brixton who brings home about £200 a day for his family - something he says has made his mother less concerned about his school attendance according to the report.
The young man also told researchers his teachers did not care when he sat with his feet up in class while making calls on his mobile phone.
“It is time to challenge this deep-seated culture in our schools," said report author Harriet Sergeant.
"Proposals for giving parents more freedom to set up schools, for imposing synthetic phonics, for enhancing the professionalism of teachers are all wise and greatly needed.
“But if change is to be lasting, something more dramatic is in order: namely, recognition of the source of the crisis and an end to the educational ideology that has damaged schools and betrayed millions of children.”
The study does highlight some options it sees as feasible to tackle the problem.
They include the charter school model, which has had some success in the United States. Charter schools allow more freedom with curricula, staffing and budgets, but are still required to achieve set academic standards.
