The full scale of the challenge in transforming the life chances of white working class young people is set out in the findings of a unique new survey looking at attitudes to education among white working class parents and children.  

The poll, carried out for the Independent Inquiry into White Working Class Educational Outcomes, questioned a representative sample of 2,000 parents and 2,000 children and young people, aged 9-18.  

It asked about a range of different experiences of school and attitudes to education in a bid to identify why white working class results are so far behind their peers. 

Key findings include:  

• White working class students are much less likely to say they enjoy school. Some 26 per cent say they rarely or never enjoy lessons, compared to 15 per cent for their non-white working class peers, 18 per cent for white middle class students and 12 per cent for non-white middle class young people. 

• Close to half of white working class parents are deeply disillusioned with their child’s school by Year 11 (GCSEs). Just 52 per cent of white working class parents said their child’s teachers respected them by Years 10 and 11, compared to 77 per cent for their white middle class peers. 

• White working class parents are much less likely to believe achieving good grades is part of being successful. Only 36 per cent of white working class parents selected this as a measure for success, compared to 46 per cent for white middle class parents and non-white working class parents and 48 per cent for non-white middle class parents. 

• A quarter of white working class boys never spend any time reading. Some 25 per cent of white working class boys do not ever read a book, magazine or comic in any given week. A further 30 per cent spend less than an hour. This contrasts with 13 per cent and 25 per cent on average. 

The Independent Inquiry into White Working Class Educational Outcomes was set up to find pedagogical and policy solutions to the attainment gap that is letting down hundreds of thousands of young people every year. Evidence of the gap includes:  

• Just 18.6% of white working class pupils achieve a good pass (5 or above) in English and Maths, compared to an average of 43.6% 

• Fewer than half of white working class children (47.5%) achieve the ‘expected level of development’ in the early years – the lowest of any ethnic group and significantly lower than the 67.7% average 

• Just 3.2% of WWC pupils achieve a place at a highly selective university, just over half of the 6.1% average.  

The polling results represent the completion of the first phase of the inquiry’s work. The next 12 months will see extensive qualitative work, additional quantitative research, expert evidence gathering and policy development. A final output is planned for the summer of 2026.  

Discussing today’s findings, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson will say at a school improvement conference in Exeter today:  

“These findings paint a sorry picture of disengagement. They are stark. White working-class children are less likely to enjoy school, less likely to feel successful at school and less likely to feel they belong at school.  

“The links between belonging and achievement are deep – and they run both ways. That is why our Schools White Paper will drive a generational reset in the contract between white working class families and schools, giving every child the opportunities they deserve in life.” 

Sir Hamid Patel CBE, co-chair of the inquiry and chief executive of Star Academies, said: “White working class outcomes for young people and the attainment gap with their peers has been a depressing feature of the education system for too long.  

“It has proved incredibly hard to move the dial on this issue, while many other communities have thrived educationally. The polling results today demonstrate the depth of the challenge, and illustrate precisely why we set up the inquiry.” 

Baroness Estelle Morris, former education secretary and co-chair of the inquiry, said: “These poll findings show the extent of the challenge in making sure that all young people, whatever their backgrounds have the opportunity to succeed.  

“Behind these findings are young people who are not getting the chance to realise their talents and pursue their ambitions. This is a loss not only for each of them but for their communities and the whole of society. It is important that action is taken to effectively bring about change.” 

For further inquiries, please email ed.dorrell@publicfirst.co.uk or phone 07779 782583 

The full polling tables can be found here.  

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