"We have a large underclass in Britain, and a fairly low standard of education. Our best universities are extremely good, but a very significant proportion of the British population that comes out of compulsory schooling with very low standards of education"

Nigel Short's quote is a reflection on the state of education in Britain. He acknowledges that the country's best universities are of a high requirement, but that a large percentage of the population is leaving required education with low standards of education. This recommends that there is an academic divide in Britain, with those from more fortunate backgrounds having access to much better education and those from less fortunate backgrounds needing to make do with lower requirements. This has resulted in a big underclass in Britain, with those from lower socio-economic backgrounds having fewer chances to be successful. This quote highlights the need for more financial investment in education in Britain, to make sure that all children have access to a high quality education and the opportunity to reach their full potential.