@contents: Selected Contents: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PREFACE The young people INTRODUCTION Yasmin The numbers game 1: THE IMPORTANCE OF PLACES How do places affect life chances? Barnsley The role of local networks Tom Cultures of exclusion Colllyhurst Ricky The East End Will 2: CHANGING CHANCES The old days The Dearne Clinging to the past Claire and her family 3: ASPIRATIONS Home and family What do parents expect? Ashley 4: POVERTY AND WEALTH Real or relative? 5: SCHOOL Teenagers and the rejection of school Underachievement Ricky’s school 6: CHANGING FAMILIES Iain Duncan Smith Rachel Attachment and uncertainty Robbie 7: STREET LIFE Criminal careers? Antisocial behaviour? 8: MAKING CHOICES Connexions Wombwell High School Unrealistic choices Bridging the Gap – a missed opportunity? Elvige 9: FURTHER TROUBLE Information Gaps David Willetts Colleges – what are they for? Lord Young, Minister for Skills and Apprenticeships Apprentices Dropping Out Yasmin Lost opportunities 10: THE WORLD OF WORK The employers’ view The call centre Workless Culture? Benefit dependency Will Solutions Rachel’s job 11: RACE MATTERS Ray Lewis Poor White boys Broken Britain? Will 12: THE DIFFERENCE FOR GIRLS Motherhood and careers Rachel 13: REACHING OUT Long term problems, short term solutions Outreach in Barnsley 14. CONCLUSIONS Footnote - outcomes BIBLIOGRAPHY
Biography
Fran Abrams is an investigative journalist with 20 years’ experience of observing and reporting on education in the United Kingdom. She works regularly for the UK broadsheet newspapers and for the BBC, and lives in Suffolk.
"This is a highly readable book with an uncomfortable message". - Tribune
