5 Conclusions
142. On average, poor white children tend to
perform at a much lower level in education than their more affluent
peers, and at a lower level than many similarly economically-deprived
children of other ethnicities. Meanwhile, the economy has changed
in recent decades; while underachievement in education may once
have led to a lifetime of employment in traditional routine manual
occupations in factories, the consequence now is more likely to
be "NEET" status.
143. This problem must be tackled by ensuring
that the best teachers and leaders are incentivised to work in
the schools and areas that need them the most, and by providing
better advice and guidance to young people. Schools face a battle
for resources and talent, and those serving poor white communities
need a better chance of winning. Poor white children in rural
and coastal areas have been "unseen" for too long; unless
such steps are taken the potential of white working class children
will be left unlocked, and the effects of the current trend will
continue to be felt beyond the school gates. White working class
children can achieve in education, and the Government must take
these steps to ensure that they do.
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