WORCESTER MP Mike Foster has promised Government action to close the gap between the "haves" and "have nots" in the education system by raising standards in struggling schools.

Mr Foster told the launch meeting of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Education and Business Partnership that, at the moment, children have greater opportunities if they come from a higher social class.

The MP, Parliamentary aide to Higher Education Minister Margaret Hodge, said this must stop.

"Too many under-achieving schools serve poor areas, meaning poor children suffer double disadvantage," he said.

"At the start of school life there are big differences between the performance in schools with intakes from different social backgrounds. By GCSE time the gap is huge.

"Three quarters of 18-year-olds from professional families enter higher education, compared to only one in six from manual backgrounds.

"And a worker with a degree will earn 20 per cent more than someone without and will be six times more likely to receive workplace training compared to a worker with no qualifications.

"The Government is committed to a strong, publicly-funded education system that the overwhelming majority of parents in all areas want to take advantage of.

"One that is operating high standards across the country, and provides what parents and students want."