I was saddened by the article highlighting socio-economic problems as the reason for lower standards of attainment in an English education authority (TES, September 18). The suggestion of an inevitable correlation between living standards and educational attainment has been disproved in Wales over the past decade.
The Thatcher government oversaw a fall in average income in Wales from 98 per cent of the UK average to 88 per cent. In defiance of this economic catastrophe, educational standards in Wales have advanced.
I believe that there are many education authorities in England where standards have risen, so to emphasise those that have not merely reinforces the classsystem.
Robin Hughes 40 Berw Road Pontypridd
