Our Findings

The evidence gathered through the Inquiry shows that white working class educational underachievement is not primarily the result of low aspiration or individual failure. Instead, it reflects the interaction between educational disadvantage, economic decline, weakening trust in public institutions, and declining confidence that education provides a reliable route to future opportunity.

Five major findings emerged:

01The education system is not set up to serve white working class children and families.02White working class communities and the education system are misaligned in how they define success and the purpose of education.03White working class families have a poorer experience of the school system than their peers.04Transitions are key pressure points where gaps widen and engagement declines for white working class young people.05White working class educational outcomes are shaped by both the education system, and wider community and economic conditions.

Explore →The journey of a white working class young person

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