White working-class children failed by education system, says inquiry

Education / Mon 29th Jun 2026 at 06:33am

ONCE-in-a-generation reforms are needed to fix an education system that “is not serving the interests of white working-class children”, an independent inquiry has concluded reports the BBC.

It was set up last summer to look into why such children are the lowest-performing large demographic in the school system in England.

Inquiry co-chair Baroness Estelle Morris said responsibility “cannot sit with schools alone” and was not due to a lack of aspiration or effort from young people.

Click below for full report.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq51j10q601o

1 Comment for White working-class children failed by education system, says inquiry:

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2026-06-29 07:17:03

The report by Baroness Morris confirms what has been suspected for a while. She is a woman of immense compassion, curiosity and vision. Coupled with Andy Burnham’s speech today (which will, in part, cover technical vs academic education), the Resolution Foundation's report (in a similar vein to Milburn’s) and Dame de Souza’s words on the findings for SEMH referrals, says one thing to me. The yesteryear approach of a one-size-fits-all system, the mid-calf skirt length and the high suspension rates is not fit for the future. All measures of attainment, progress, attendance and employment are not where they should be, and those that are wedded to a Victorian way of working should step aside. Things need to change quickly.