This is an unsurprising, though devastating, result.

Our “race to the middle” culture which has been brought about by the measure of success in secondary schools being a broad count of A* – C grades, has unfortunately encouraged teachers to ignore their brightest students, and focus instead on those on the D/C border.

Like a government that might target it’s policies at marginal constituencies, teachers have targeted the  “marginal’ students at the detriment of those children who are sure-fire C’s, B’s or A’s, but who are not yet fulfilling their potential.

Now that attention is being drawn to this problem, let us hope that it will lead to a shift in government educational policy.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2013/feb/22/maths-pupils-england-behind-chinese