Does "the gap" matter?

I agree, nonu. The parents' attitude to education has been shown over and over again to make more difference to a child's academic achievements than anything else. Which is not to say teachers' roles are insignificant, but if there is not a positive attitude to schooling at home, the teachers are 'up against it' on the whole.

A nuturing home atmosphere is absolutely vital , IMO ,well certainly worked in our case and for our offspring with their little families .

The happiest nations have been shown to be those with the smallest gap between the richest and the poorest. Britain does badly in that respect.
I agree, Cathy, he seems to be talking sense.
I was always aware when teaching bottom streams in inner city comprehensive schools that there was only so much I could achieve in the school day, but I was able to form a bond with quite a few mothers (fathers were not much in evidence, or they did not come to parents' nights). I am afraid I did tell lies, or at least I stressed all the positive aspects of their child, and 'forgot' a lot of bad behaviour.
Their children tended to be very well behaved for me for a time after their astounded parents had told them how pleased they were with their improved report.
I believe that some teachers set their aims too low for certain children and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The difficulty is that however good a school, and there are many, school is only half of the equation the other half of the equation is the home upbringing. There has been research into children who achieve educational success and the key factor has been an intellectually nurturing atmosphere at home, regardless of family circumstances.

Love this man.... David Laws, the Liberal Democrat Minister!

He has a sense of fairness not often seen, all power to him, regardless to which party he belongs to.

Very interesting Bags . Much of what was written there is only common sense when you think about it.