With education and social inequalities under scrutiny, this text provides an up-to-date summary of research into issues as well as practical strategies for educators.

With education and social inequalities under scrutiny, this text provides a late-1990s summary of research into issues as well as practical strategies for educators, including strategies for staff development, working with children and school policy. It argues that the facts have changed significantly, and that much received wisdom cannot be relied upon: girls' performance is rising faster than boys and surpasses them in almost all respects up to the age of 18; unequal opportunity faced by those of different race is becoming more fractured along class, gender, ethnic and religious lines; and class divisions are increased with the reintroduction of selection and has become a matter of concern for government and school policy makers.