Throughout the Inquiry’s research, a picture emerged of how disadvantage, disengagement and unequal access to opportunity accumulate across childhood and adolescence for many white working class young people. Poor educational experience and weak outcomes reinforce one another over time.

This illustration draws together many of the experiences, pressures and outcomes described across the Inquiry’s research. It is not intended to represent the experience of every white working class child. Experiences vary significantly between individuals, schools and places. However, educational gaps very often emerge early, widen over time, and become reinforced across a young person’s education.

The following pages explore these experiences in greater depth.