Mansfield MP says all children deserve to have the chance to fulfill their potential

Ben Bradley wants all children given the chance to succeed, regardless of background.

I raised this subject because, according to data from the Department for Education, UCAS and others, its white boys from disadvantaged backgrounds who are faring the worst in the school system.

This isn’t new, in fact it’s been the case for a long time, but it seems like it’s rarely discussed.

I know from my time as a school governor that it is so often a key concern in many schools, but it’s not something that’s ever really been prioritized on a policy level.

Now, of course, disadvantaged children face challenges, regardless of their gender or ethnic background, and all children who need it deserve to get help in fulfilling their potential.

I wanted to raise the challenges for young lads from communities like Mansfield in particular because it so often seems like they don’t get much attention.

They face some additional challenges that don’t exist in many other parts of the country.

The closure of industry brought an end to the certainty of work that used to exist for young lads and so they will need skills and qualifications.

So I argued that we need to do more for the kids who currently aren’t getting those qualifications.

Only a third of white boys from disadvantaged backgrounds get maths and English GCSE, often seen as the minimum requirement.

That means we need more interventions for these boys, more support for struggling schools and, in my view, more choice for them about what they want to study.

If you’re faced with leaving school with nothing, then far better to take on technical or vocational courses and leave with something that can get you in to work.

I know the Government is committed to making education work for everyone.

That is what has driven the obsession with reading and maths, and for many children standards are improving.

What’s still missing is to look out for those where it still isn’t and where more is needed.

This is going to be a mission for me during this Parliament – helping the kids in our community who need it most.

Ben Bradley is MP for Mansfield and Warsop.