Wealth gap 'no excuse' for poor pupils' underachievement

Differences in the wealth of pupils provides "no excuse" for schools to be allowing underprivileged children to fall behind in class, Liam Nolan has said.

The executive head teacher at Perry Beeches Academy Trust told the Today programme that these children should be offered extra support to help them catch up with the attainment of wealthier pupils.

His comments come as an Education Select Committee report described poor white youngsters as "consistently the lowest performing group in the country".

Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, added that it is necessary for schools to understand their pupils' backgrounds and work with parents to instil the conditions needed to help children achieve.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Wednesday 18 June.