Poor pupils still being let down, Wilshaw says

Ofsted boss Michael Wilshaw has warned that the English education system is still failing disadvantaged pupils.

In a speech at the Festival of Education, Wilsahaw said there is an ‘appalling injustice’ of children from poorer homes continuing to fall behind their peers. The Ofsted boss called for a tougher stance on ‘feckless parents’ who allow their children to break school rules.

Wilshaw continued to defend testing in schools, which has been criticised by groups, claiming the practice offered disadvantaged pupils the prospect of a better life.

He said: “In 2005, the attainment gap between free school meal [FSM] and non-FSM pupils in secondary schools was 28 percentage points - it is still 28 percentage points now."

He added: "The attainment gap between FSM and non-FSM secondary school children in West Berkshire is 31 percentage points. In Kent it's 34. In Surrey it's 36. In Buckinghamshire it's 39. And in Reading it's a whopping 40 percentage points - all far in excess of the national gap of 28. What an appalling injustice."

"A rule-based classroom culture helps compensate for a chaotic home life. Take it away and the poorest children rarely swim; they sink. Even when home structures are in place, the poor's expectations and potential are often constrained by limited cultural horizons.

"Through no fault of their own, many simply aren't aware of what is possible. Why should they be? Few of them have had access to the life-enhancing opportunities a good education brings. Middle-class children always have a head start. Their cultural hinterland is usually rich. Their parents are usually well educated.”