Morning:
10°c
Hundreds of thousands of teenagers are “hostile” to school and rejecting education, a government report warned today.
One in five 15 and 16-year-olds are seriously “disengaged”, refuse to accept rules and dislike teachers.
They are at risk of dropping out, taking drugs and committing crime, and face a bleak future, said the study.
The report was published as separate figures showed that poor white British boys were falling further behind their classmates in GCSE results.
The findings come as ministers prepare to launch their flagship “Neets” strategy, aimed at cutting the numbers of teenagers “not in education, employment or training”.
In a blow to the Government's record on tackling teenage drop-outs, researchers found:
Fewer teenagers were committed to further study after GCSEs.
A quarter of 14-16-year-olds were “disengaged” with school and more likely to skip classes.
Twenty per cent of 15 and 16-year-olds were “seriously disengaged”. They were most likely to be white boys from poor homes.
The report from the National Centre for Social Research was commissioned by the Department for Children. It said: “Disengaged young people are far less likely to aspire to continue with full-time education. They are also much more likely to play truant. Over a third leave school with little or no qualifications. These young people are far more likely to engage in risky behaviour: 43 per cent drink regularly, and over half have tried cigarettes and/or cannabis. A fifth have also engaged in crimes against property, and nearly two-fifths in fights.”
Separate figures reinforced the difficulties faced by white working-class boys. Fewer than one in five white British boys from the poorest homes achieved five C grades in GCSEs.
This meant that the gap between working-class white boys and other pupils widened since 2006.
Liberal Democrat schools spokesman David Laws said the figures were “shameful”. He added: “The gap is growing between the poorest pupils and their wealthier classmates.”
Schools Minister Vernon Coaker insisted results were improving overall. “But we are not complacent and are determined that every single pupil gets the support they need,” he added.
Reader views (4)
Time to start building more prisons. The herd will have to be culled aggressively or the country will fall into a new Dark Ages of violent chaos. Only the highly paid MPs and their ilk, and coddled celebrities will be safe.
The common man, abiding the law and trying eek out a tiny living will be chewed up by the coming hordes with alarming regularity.
- Trunk, US, 16/12/2009 03:21
Report abuse
The whole country faces an extremely bleak and violent future at the hands of the hostile and the ungovernable.
- Jennifer, Reading, 15/12/2009 16:43
Report abuse
"The report was published as separate figures showed that poor white British boys were falling further behind their classmates in GCSE results".
This is no suprise as we have a government in place that favours helping and promoting immigrants and minorities before its own citizens. This is to secure future votes and the real reason behind their mass immigration policy. This is shameful and Anti British on all levels.
- Brandon Thomas, SW7, London, 15/12/2009 14:58
Report abuse
The Government have just discovered this? How out of touch can they get. Teenagers have been disconnected from school for years. Many see little point in studying, getting they GCSE's etc as they don't believe they will be able to get a job. So they turn to a life of crime, gangs and violence instead.
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 15/12/2009 13:49
Report abuse
