Black children do not do badly at school because of racism but because they do not pay attention and have little support from parents

Tony Sewell, a black former teacher and consultant at Reading University, said such youngsters fail their exams because they do not do their homework and are disrespectful to teachers. Figures from the Department for Education show that, in 2008, just 27% of black boys achieved five or more GCSEs graded A-star to C. They are also three times more likely to be excluded from school than any other group.