Opinion

Exclusive: The Minister's View - Let's help to beat the odds

Policy & Politics
Here is a league table that matters more than most.

In international evidence released last year, showing the ability of disadvantaged young people to fulfil their academic potential, the UK comes a lowly 28th out of 35 nations.

According to the OECD, poorer young people in this country are less likely to beat the odds than children in Canada, Australia, Finland, Mexico, Tunisia and Singapore, to name just a few. Even some of our very brightest children from disadvantaged backgrounds struggle to outperform their less gifted, but wealthier peers.

Is there a special reason why poorer young people in the UK lack the 'resilience' to beat the odds? Absolutely not. Children here are just as capable of enjoying wonderful childhoods and achieving their potential as any others around the world.

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