This video concludes it well arguing basically that: Well educated men are more likely to marry well educated women. The children are generally more intelligent and stable and in turn more likely to raise stable and high achieving families. The less educated and poorer are more likely to produce more unstable and poorer children. The result is a gulf.

All I argue is that one should aspire to study something useful, find someone on your intellectual level, and in turn that is more likely to produce decent well adjusted children. A smart person will research and study and be involved with their child. Others will not and most likely find themselves raising a child alone.

Thus I don't think austerity or the lack of pool is hurting kids, but the choices of their own parents certainly is. All the pool in the world might be great, but it won't lead to attainment or change anything at home.