Makes you proud to be British

[TurboTom]

I don't actually think it is a race issue - and never was - it's more of a class issue.

Take the Indian sub-continent. Amongst the lowest achievers are the Pakistani and Bangladeshi youth. But the Indian are amongst the highest achievers.
They are the same race.
The Indians are differing religions - so it's not linked to religion.

But the Indians are generally middle class business people. The Pakistani / Bangladeshi are working class. They came to work in the factories and those jobs are no longer there.

That's the same issue for the white working class.

The middle class in this country (generally) have a built in level of aspiration that is driven by parents, grandparents and taken up by the kids.

The working class - well there isn't really one anymore. It's really a benefits / low income / tax credits class.
What have they to aim for?

If they work and they try to earn more, they lose tax credits.

If they don't work, and take a job, they often lose out financially.

If they try hard to achieve at school, they often have no option other than a failing school.

The online LET article doesn't have the Stats. They show that in 2009 Burnley and Padiham's best School achieved only 43% 5 A-C at GCSE with an average of 35%.
Blackburn had one school at 11% - that school doesn't even turn up for the Town Athletics or XC Champs - so not only are they failing at Academic subjects, they are failing in all areas.

If you end up at that 11% school, what are your chances?

Im working class as are a lot of us and we wouldnt see ourselves as leaning on a metaphorical crutch of benefits or whatever. I dont think it is a class issue either unless of course it is concerning the gulf between Private and normal education (yet private schools have come out low due to discrepancies with the IGcse)
Obviously the school with the 11% is a c ulmination probably of a poor area, with poor resourceas and ultimately a poor reputation which means it wont attract the top young academic people...so is it a failing of the class system or a failing of schools and a victory for elitism.

I know what they have to aim for a better life....its obvious. All these schemes by the government to try and get working class kids as doctors, vets etc...im quite envious because im just not clever enough but hey ho shit happens. However there are those who are content with simple lives relying on benefits and unfortuantely they all go to certain schools and bring their standards and thos of other students down