Poorer high-ability UK children fall behind peers at school from age of 11

Study finds critical period between ages of 11 and 14 is when things seem to start going wrong' compared with wealthier group

A critical three-year period between the ages of 11 and 14 has been identified as the point at which talented children from low-income backgrounds fall behind their wealthier peers at school, according to new research.

The study tracked high-ability children from the age of five, from the lowest and highest income groups, and found that they progressed at similar rates until the first years of secondary school.