Teaching union calls for action to help disadvantaged white working class

Union leaders are calling for action to be taken to boost the school achievement of white working class pupils.

In a policy document published today, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) says that the effect of social class on the education of children of all ethnicities is still a "neglected topic".

It says there is a growing awareness that the impact of social class on young people is uneven, with some groups of youngsters suffering bigger disadvantages by the time they leave school than others.

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Two examples of this are white working class young people and black Caribbean boys.

The union published the policy document, Opening Locked Doors, to set out recommendations contributing to improving the educational achievement of white working class youngsters.

Three years ago the union published a similar document on promoting the achievement of black Caribbean boys.

Among the proposals to be launched at a House of Commons event today, are:

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A call for the Government to establish a ring-fenced grant which covers all groups of young people in need of support, including white working class pupils, without reducing current funding available to minority ethnic groups;

A separate, similar grant for schools to provide services for all parents, such as adult education;

Government guidance on the duty of schools to promote community cohesion should include information on valuing all communities and celebrating the backgrounds of all children;

A requirement for headteachers and teachers to be given training on social class issues;

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A reform of the curriculum to allow schools to reflect the history and development of their local communities;

Schemes for teenagers not in education, employment or training – "Neets" – to contain a focus on the needs of white working class young people.

NUT general secretary Christine Blower said parents' earnings and education quality had the greatest influence on the achievement of their children.

"All over the country, job loss through the collapse of manufacturing has caused problems for working class communities."

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She added: "The NUT agrees with John Denham when he says that disadvantages caused by social class and racism need to be tackled together."

Last week Mr Denham, the Communities Secretary, said that social class must be considered when tackling discrimination and inequality.

Official figures published in November showed that less than half (48 per cent) of male, white British 11-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds reached Level 4, the standard expected of the age group, in English and maths in 2008/09.