Poverty is not such a barrier to learning, say teachers: opinion

They believe aspiration is one of the keys to success, poll suggests.

It has become an accepted truth among educationalists, governments and academics: poverty, poor parental education and lack of access to books at home are some of the biggest barriers to pupils' academic success.

Now, though, there is evidence that teachers disagree. A National Foundation for Educational Research opinion poll found that the profession actually rates poverty as among the least of their pupils' potential problems.

Teachers were given a list of 18 possible barriers in education. Asked to list the ones that most "limited students' ability to realise their full potential", just 16 per cent cited poverty, which finished as only the 12th most important factor.

"Poor access to education resources outside of the classroom" finished even lower and was listed as a problem by just 15 per cent of the 1,567 teachers surveyed.