Living in a socially deprived area can be tough. At least, that’s what several recent reports looking at the secondary school experience of teenagers in this demographic have indicated. it is recognised that the UK economy needs a highly skilled workforce and, in the North West, we have a large employer base of biochemical and chemical companies (see www. chemicalsnorthwest. org.uk), so we need school pupils from all backgrounds to be scientifically literate. Those who grow up in a socially deprived group are less likely to pursue careers involving science than the general population
