Schooling the Estate Kids chronicles the trajectory of one Kent secondary school which was twice dubbed 'the worst school in England' in the national press. Serving a high poverty neighbourhood, The Ramsgate School was challenged by national targets, low levels of attainment of the school intake at 11 and difficulties of recruitment and retention of quality staff.

The local housing estates were amongst the most deprived in the country and shared the school's negative reputation.This book questions the notion that school improvement and school leadership are key areas to focus on when the socio-economic circumstances of pupils, poverty, dwarf all the other factors which are related to the educational progress of students.