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Professions 'reserved for rich' Professions 'reserved for rich'
(20 minutes later)
Top professions such as medicine and law are increasingly being closed off to all but the most affluent families, a report into social mobility has said.Top professions such as medicine and law are increasingly being closed off to all but the most affluent families, a report into social mobility has said.
Former minister Alan Milburn has chaired a study for the prime minister on widening access to high-status jobs.Former minister Alan Milburn has chaired a study for the prime minister on widening access to high-status jobs.
He says young people in England should have access to much better careers advice to boost their ambitions.He says young people in England should have access to much better careers advice to boost their ambitions.
Mr Milburn told the BBC: "We have raised the glass ceiling but I don't think we have broken through it yet."Mr Milburn told the BBC: "We have raised the glass ceiling but I don't think we have broken through it yet."
He said the professions had a "closed shop mentality" and "have become more and not less exclusive over time".He said the professions had a "closed shop mentality" and "have become more and not less exclusive over time".
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Milburn called for "a second great wave of social mobility" like that of the 1950s and 1960s to match a projected growth in the number of managerial jobs.Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Milburn called for "a second great wave of social mobility" like that of the 1950s and 1960s to match a projected growth in the number of managerial jobs.
"It's not that Britain doesn't have talent, to coin a phrase - Britain has lots of talent," he added."It's not that Britain doesn't have talent, to coin a phrase - Britain has lots of talent," he added.
We have a country in which a former circus manager's son, John Major, became prime minister - don't talk about glass ceilings Quentin LettsDaily Mail Closing the opportunity gaps Move to widen student talent pool City reaches out to young talent
"What we have got to do is open up these opportunities so they are available for everybody.""What we have got to do is open up these opportunities so they are available for everybody."
The supply of education places could be opened up to greater competition, particularly in areas of underperformance Alan MilburnChairman of the social mobility panel Closing the opportunity gaps
But speaking to BBC News, Daily Mail journalist Quentin Letts said Mr Milburn was presenting an "Edwardian" view of the class system.But speaking to BBC News, Daily Mail journalist Quentin Letts said Mr Milburn was presenting an "Edwardian" view of the class system.
"If you only brought back selection into state schools and you had grammar schools again and you had a decent education system, people would be able to power though this," Mr Letts added."If you only brought back selection into state schools and you had grammar schools again and you had a decent education system, people would be able to power though this," Mr Letts added.
"We have a country in which a former circus manager's son, John Major, became prime minister. Don't talk about glass ceilings." "We have a country in which a former circus manager's son, John Major, became prime minister - don't talk about glass ceilings."
'Surrogate pushy parent''Surrogate pushy parent'
Writing in the Times newspaper, Mr Milburn also says he agrees with the Tories that parental choice should be extended and schools should be subject to greater competition.Writing in the Times newspaper, Mr Milburn also says he agrees with the Tories that parental choice should be extended and schools should be subject to greater competition.
"The Conservatives say that city academies should be extended in both primary and secondary schools," he writes. The wide-ranging study by an independent panel of experts, Fair Access to the Professions, calls for more equal opportunities in education and employment.
"They also say, rightly, that the supply of education places could be opened up to greater competition, particularly in areas of underperformance." SOCIAL MOBILITY REPORT class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/21_07_09_fair_access.pdf">Final Report on Fair Access to the Professions class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/21_07_09_fair_access_summary.pdf">Summary and recommendations href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here
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.
BBC home editor Mark Easton says it calls for the state to act as "a surrogate pushy parent", matching the advantages given by ambitious, articulate families.BBC home editor Mark Easton says it calls for the state to act as "a surrogate pushy parent", matching the advantages given by ambitious, articulate families.
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.
No-fee degrees
The report warns that people entering careers such as medicine, law and journalism are increasingly likely to be from more affluent families.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. Currently 75% of judges and 45% of senior civil servants are privately 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.
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.
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.
Social intake
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.
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.
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.
It also criticises informal recruitment systems, such as internships and work placement, as becoming a back-door for better-off, better-connected youngsters.
Its recommendations include:
  • University students should be recruited from a wider range of social backgrounds, with no-fee degrees for students living at home
  • Leading universities should take into account the social background of pupils - particularly when pupils from low-achieving schools are competing against pupils from fee-paying schools with a tradition of very high grades
  • Higher education to be more widely available in further education education colleges - making it more accessible to mature students wanting to study locally
  • Universities to become more involved in schools, such as by having representatives on boards of governors.
  • Professions and universities to publish figures on the social background of their intake
  • Extra opportunities for pupils in the lowest-achieving schools, in the form of vouchers for further and higher education courses.
But the report suggests that much more needs to be done on university admissions - with fears that the university system can reinforce disadvantage rather than reduce it.
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.
Business Minister Pat McFadden welcomed the report, which he said provided "a welcome and rigorous examination of where we have done well and where we have fallen short".Business Minister Pat McFadden welcomed the report, which he said provided "a welcome and rigorous examination of where we have done well and where we have fallen short".
He added: "We share the aim of the report's authors - to enhance the life chances of every young person regardless of their background or income."He added: "We share the aim of the report's authors - to enhance the life chances of every young person regardless of their background or income."