Vow to tackle challenge facing white working-class students

THE Education Secretary has pledged to tackle the 'thorny' challenge of British white working-class young people falling behind their peers as she called it her 'priority' for the year ahead.

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Bridget Phillipson has said it is a 'national disgrace' that so many young people are 'written off' and do not get what they need in the education system to achieve and thrive after leaving school.

Speaking before A Level results day on Thursday, Ms Phillipson said her focus will be turning around the 'stark' attainment gap between white working-class children and their peers.

The Government will set out its plans in a schools white paper in the autumn, she said.

Fewer than a fifth (18.6%) of white British pupils eligible for free school meals achieved at least a grade 5 - a 'strong pass' - in English and maths GCSEs in 2023/24, compared to 45.9% of all state school pupils in England, according to Department for Education (DfE) data.