Oona King

Ms Oona King (Bethnal Green and Bow): The White Paper is an attempt to bring a more level playing field to our children. I hesitate to talk about playing fields, however, because in Tower Hamlets in my constituency, not one single school has a playing field, never mind a level one. The disparities at every level in the education system are great and must be overcome. That is what the White Paper sets out to do.

My mother was a teacher who taught in inner London for more than 20 years. She often lamented the fact that many children arrive at schoolunteachable. We have heard much talk about fitting school leavers for society, but less talk of making our society fit to educate our children.