"why is it that most kids are so poor with English or Maths"

Possibly because class sizes approach or exceed 30 and in many areas the majority of pupils do not have English as their first language. Facilities in some areas are sadly lacking, many school buildings are over 100 years old, and the curriculum requires so much from each individual that there is not enough time to do it all.

Teachers in major cities may get 'weighting' (a slightly higher pay rate to cover the alledged cost of living in the city), but many are also 'handcuffed' by contracts. At one point, not so many years ago, if a new teacher got their first job in London, they could not leave London for 5 years without major penalties. Consequently, London had a major shortage of 'new blood'.

As with nurses, police, fire and ambulance officers, teachers often cannot afford to live in the areas they teach. I am a parent/governor of a local school in London - over 2/3rds of the staff do not live within 10 miles, because they cannot afford the housing that is available nearby.

LTS