Independent readers have been sharing strong views on what is holding back white working-class pupils, with many drawing on their own experiences of education, parenting and teaching in the classroom.

Anti-social behaviour is high, opportunity is low, and there is nothing to do. That's what young people in Gateshead told me about growing up in the north-east of England as a white working-class boy.

The Independent and Yahoo will earn a commission from purchases made via links in this article. Pricing and availability are subject to change. Ms Phillipson criticised the "distant dream" of social ...