Boredom blamed for creating a land of little opportunity

PEOPLE in Bristol have blamed "a lack of mentors and things to do" - after parts of the city were ranked lowest in England for prospects for working class children.

- STAFF REPORTER

Kids that grow up on free school meals in one area of the city are the least likely to get a degree compared with every other part of the country, a new study shows.

Other areas there also rank near the bottom of the likelihood young-sters will have a job at 28.

Kids who get free school dinners in south and east Bristol start life with some of the lowest prospects in the country, a report by The Sutton Trust said.

Called the 'The Opportunity Index' it used data from over 25 years to focus on the prospects for kids.

It found just four per cent on free school meals in Bristol South will have a degree by 22 - the lowest in England where data was available.

And Bristol South and Bristol East both feature in the top ten worst results for 'Opportunity Index Rank' which combines all the data.

Last week the Government announced plans for Hartcliffe to become a “Trailblazer Neighbourhood” entitling it to up to £20million of additional funding over the next decade. What this will be spent on remains to be seen.