Another memory came to mind on my education growing up. I had learning difficulties, with my parents and teachers ignoring my difficulties.

Studies show that our education has lot to do with our parents' education. Although my case is different because of my neurological difficulties, studies have shown that children are more likely to succeed in education, having parents who are. My parents didn’t come from educated families, but given my father’s culture, he was keen for my brother to have an education.

“A study of 16,000 14 year-olds, commissioned by the educational charity the Sutton Trust, found that in England, 56% of teenagers whose parents had degrees, scored high enough grades to perform in the top quarter of their peer group.” (Source: The Guardian.co.uk).

There are other problems in the education system. In England, not all children have equal opportunities to achieve high grades in school and children who do not live in affluent areas, have more difficulty getting into good high schools. The UK government is also putting the emphasis back on schools, in terms of examination league tables, so that school exam performances are widely available.

Universities have always been able to select the best candidates, but they are now being more choosy about who they pick.  Through changes in government funding they are now beginning to take more students who attend state high schools, rather than private schools.

In the same research there is also evidence to suggest that those parents who read and introduce their children early on in their formative years and who have at least 100 books are nearly 5 times more likely to do better in school.

In any event with parents’ backing children I see no reason why children will not go on to do well. Obviously various obstacles may make it more difficult, but with guidance and support they should do the best they can.  Something I never had.