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Young urged to raise aspirations Young urged to raise aspirations
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Young people in England should have access to much better careers advice to boost their ambitions, suggests a report into social mobility.Young people in England should have access to much better careers advice to boost their ambitions, suggests a report into social mobility.
Former minister Alan Milburn is to report to the prime minister on how to widen access to high-status jobs.Former minister Alan Milburn is to report to the prime minister on how to widen access to high-status jobs.
The report warns that entry to professions such as law and medicine is becoming more socially exclusive. The report warns that entry to professions, such as law and medicine, is becoming more socially exclusive.
It calls for the professions and universities to publish figures on the social background of their intake. Mr Milburn, writing in the Times, says poorer pupils will miss out unless the school attainment gap is reduced.
The wide-ranging report from an independent panel of experts calls for more equal opportunities in education and employment. "A huge expansion in professional jobs in the next decade will bring the potential for a new wave of social mobility," he says.
Widening gap The supply of education places could be opened up to greater competition, particularly in areas of underperformance Alan MilburnChairman of the social mobility panel
"But, as our report makes clear, generations of low and middle-income young people will miss out unless we do more to close the educational attainment gap in schools."
Mr Milburn, chairman of a cross-party panel on social mobility, also says he agrees with the Tories that the supply of education places could be opened up to greater competition.
"The Conservatives say that city academies should be extended in both primary and secondary schools," he writes.
"They also say, rightly, that the supply of education places could be opened up to greater competition, particularly in areas of underperformance."
Mr Milburn's report, Fair Access to the Professions, calls for the professions and universities to publish figures on the social background of their intake.
The wide-ranging study by an independent panel of experts calls for more equal opportunities in education and employment.
It says that young people from all backgrounds should have the type of careers advice that would match the advantages given by ambitious, articulate parents.It says that young people from all backgrounds should have the type of careers advice that would match the advantages given by ambitious, articulate parents.
It wants to raise the aspirations of more young people to have the expectations of professional families, giving them confidence when making decisions about university and jobs.It wants to raise the aspirations of more young people to have the expectations of professional families, giving them confidence when making decisions about university and jobs.
The report, Fair Access to the Professions, warns that people entering careers such as medicine, law and journalism are increasingly likely to be from more affluent families. No-fee degrees
It calls from greater monitoring of the social background of those entering professions, in the way that figures are published for race and gender. The report warns that people entering careers such as medicine, law and journalism are increasingly likely to be from more affluent families.
Currently 75% of judges and 45% of senior civil servants are independently educated.
The report also calls for greater monitoring of the social background of those entering professions, in the way that figures are published for race and gender.
It also criticises informal recruitment systems, such as internships and work placement, as becoming a back-door for better-off, better-connected youngsters.It also criticises informal recruitment systems, such as internships and work placement, as becoming a back-door for better-off, better-connected youngsters.
Recruiting more students from a wider range of social backgrounds into university is seen as a key to social mobility.Recruiting more students from a wider range of social backgrounds into university is seen as a key to social mobility.
As such it proposes no-fee degrees for students living at home.As such it proposes no-fee degrees for students living at home.
University places
But the report suggests that much more needs to be done on admissions - with fears that the university system can reinforce disadvantage rather than reduce it.But the report suggests that much more needs to be done on admissions - with fears that the university system can reinforce disadvantage rather than reduce it.
It calls for leading universities to take into account the social background of pupils - particularly when pupils from low-achieving schools are competing against independent school pupils with a tradition of very high grades.It calls for leading universities to take into account the social background of pupils - particularly when pupils from low-achieving schools are competing against independent school pupils with a tradition of very high grades.
Social intake
There are also calls for universities to become more involved in schools, such as by having representatives on boards of governors.There are also calls for universities to become more involved in schools, such as by having representatives on boards of governors.
It suggests that higher education should be more widely available in further education education colleges - making it more accessible to mature students wanting to study locally.It suggests that higher education should be more widely available in further education education colleges - making it more accessible to mature students wanting to study locally.
There are also proposals to give extra opportunities for pupils in the lowest-achieving schools, in the form of vouchers for further and higher education courses.There are also proposals to give extra opportunities for pupils in the lowest-achieving schools, in the form of vouchers for further and higher education courses.
And it calls for more detailed publication of the social intake of university courses.And it calls for more detailed publication of the social intake of university courses.
The report does not only focus on the poorest part of the population - but suggests that many middle-income families are also missing out in an increasingly polarised jobs market.The report does not only focus on the poorest part of the population - but suggests that many middle-income families are also missing out in an increasingly polarised jobs market.
With a high proportion of new jobs being classified as professional or managerial, the report emphasises the importance of ensuring fair access.With a high proportion of new jobs being classified as professional or managerial, the report emphasises the importance of ensuring fair access.