HM Chief Inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw mentioned the Sutton Trust’s Missing Talent report in a speech on social mobility and the performance of poor children to the National Conference of School Improvement on 10th September. He said that:

“The recent Sutton Trust report on the performance of the most able poor pupils between primary and secondary schools was I think a real shocker. It showed that 15% of highly able pupils who score in the top 10% nationally at age 11 fail to achieve in the top 25% of GCSE grades. Boys, particularly the poorest, are most likely to be in this missing talent group.”

To address this, he said that teacher CPD, recruitment and retention must improve and the education system must develop good leaders. He closed saying that “the example of London has taught us that nothing is beyond reach as long as the collective will and commitment is there to deliver the changes needed. As ever, I remain optimistic that this can be achieved.”