White low-income pupils ‘report lowest enthusiasm for school’ in England

Boys and girls in demographic start secondary school with weakest levels of engagement, research finds

White pupils from low-income families in England start secondary school with far lower levels of enthusiasm or effort than other ethnic groups, according to new research that may partly explain differences in academic results and behaviour.

Both girls and boys from lower-income white families reported weak levels of engagement from year 7 onwards. Girls were less likely to enjoy being at school while the boys made less effort with their school work.