There are some similarities to the case of my own father, who was orphaned at the age of 2, brought up on a farm by his aunt and uncle. Gained a scholarship to the local Grammar school at the age of 10, but was taken out of school at 12, and put to farm service. Volunteered for WW1 at the age of 15 "because he was bored". survived (obviously) married late, and had me and my brother when in his forties.Had worked as a railway engineman from leaving the army to retirement. I passed the 11 +, my brother didn't for some reason, I worked on the railway and he in the police, however the latent potential showed in the next generation, his granchildren, all of whom went to university, from comprehensive schools incidentally, the 5 of them gaining at least 8 degrees between, including one double first and subsequent Phd from Oxford, not the guy I mentioned in my previous posting though they were contemporaries. The nature is there, and given the opportunity can flourish as in this case. My great fear is the opportunity will now be increasingly limited to those who can afford to send their children to Eton etc.