White working class pupils’ underachievement in exams due to being ‘written off’ is a ‘national disgrace’, Bridget Phillipson has said.
The Education Secretary said too many youngsters in this group fail to get the help they need to succeed at school.
Speaking ahead of A-level results day this Thursday, Mrs Phillipson said tackling this ‘thorny’ issue will be her ‘priority’ in the coming year.
The Government will set out its plans for the challenge in a schools white paper in the autumn, she added.
Last year, only 18.6 per cent of low-income white British pupils achieved at least a grade 5 –considered a ‘strong pass’ – in their English and maths GCSEs.
