London is a city of contrasts, with both the highest pay rates in the country and the highest rates of child poverty . 34% of children in London (and 51% in Inner London) are in income poverty after taking into account housing costs.  Although London accounts for 20% of national employment, worklessness is higher in London than in other major cities, even when controlling for workforce characteristics, and high costs of living make life especially tough for those who cannot find work.

This particular urban context has numerous implications for education: for adult and continuing education and workplace training and skill development as well as for the compulsory education sectors.  In such an unequal city, how can education best support the narrowing of differentials between people and promote social justice and community cohesion at the same time as promoting economic development? Addressing these questions will form a major part of LERU’s research agenda over coming months. 

• White working class achievement
  
  This report suggests that the cycle of underachievement has been endemic among white working class pupils since mass education was introduced in Victorian times. It found that 'white British' boys entitled to free school meals were the male group with lowest attainment and ‘white British’ girls entitled to free school meals were the female group with lowest attainment. The research identified and studied 12 schools that have managed to buck the national trend in the attainment levels of their white, working-class students, and from this it delivers a blueprint for school leadership. The report summarises the key leadership characteristics that these schools used to promote the achievement of white working class pupils.
  
  Click here to download the full report in PDF format .