"Invisible poor children let down by schools, says Ofsted head"

From the BBC:

Many of the children being left behind in schools now are in suburbs, market towns and seaside resorts rather than big cities, England's chief inspector of schools has said.

In a speech, Sir Michael Wilshaw said most teachers found it difficult to pay attention to the needs of pupils whom they could not actually see, even in schools rated good or outstanding in quite affluent areas.

'Invisible children'

He wants a new team of "National Service Teachers" sent in to help who will wave their hands a few inches above all apparently empty seats at the beginning of each lesson and will alert the class teacher to where the invisible pupils are sitting.

Sir Michael has praised big improvements in London schools. And he says other big cities, such as Birmingham, Greater Manchester, Liverpool and Leicester, have also made great strides.

'X-ray vision'

"Today, many of the disadvantaged children performing least well in school can be found in leafy suburbs, market towns or seaside resorts," he said in the speech in London.

"Often they are spread thinly, as an 'invisible minority' across areas that are relatively affluent. These poor, unseen children can be found in mediocre schools the length and breadth of our country.

"Or more to the point, they cannot be found."

'Shape shifters'

"Professor Xavier has shown what can be achieved, and we call on the parents of children who are invisible or suffer other learning handicaps, such as X-ray vision or the ability to shape-shift, to take advantage of the free schools programme and set up new schools based on his School for Gifted Youngsters.

"But I'd draw the line at those nutcases who can throw fireballs from their bare hands. They're always trouble."