White working-class pupils need teaching help

White pupils from working-class backgrounds are the lowest achieving group in schools across the country, a new study has revealed.

According to the research, headed by Dr Steve Strand of Warwick University, the group were failing to secure good GCSE grades due to low aspirations and a lack of motivation to complete homework, The Independent reports.

Dr Strand claimed that teachers may have low expectations of such pupils, which could lead the attainment of the group to fall further.

He added: "The social class gap, and the poor attainment of pupils from low socio-economic class homes whatever their ethnic group, ought to be seen as a cause for concern.

"White British pupils are consistently the lowest achieving ethnic group whatever the socio-economic dimension, social class of the home, mother's education, entitlement to free school meals, rented housing, single-parent households and neighbourhood deprivation."

Dr Strand claimed that further research was needed to discover more precise causes of such falling standards.