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ATL comment on GCSE results by pupil characteristic
4 March 2010
Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said:
"These figures once again highlight that family background remains a stubborn determining factor in how well young people do at school and college.
"Although, quite rightly, a lot of attention is given to the under-performance of white boys on free school meals, far less notice is taken of the wider performance gap between poor white girls and their richer female classmates, or the low attainment of other less high profile groups.
"Instead of focusing initiatives on improving attainment among the current high priority group of the day, we urge the government to tackle the root causes of inequality."
Notes to editors
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) is an independent, registered trade union and professional association, representing approximately 160,000 teachers, headteachers, lecturers and support staff in maintained and independent nurseries, schools, sixth form, tertiary and further education colleges in the United Kingdom.
ATL exists to help members, as their careers develop, through first rate research, advice, information and legal advice.
ATL is affiliated to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) and Education International (EI). ATL is not affiliated to any political party and seeks to work constructively with all the main political parties.