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'Glass ceiling' blocking top jobs 'Glass ceiling' blocking top jobs
(19 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".
Professions with highest proportions of privately educated individuals Professions with highest proportions of privately educated individuals
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 talentWe 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."
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."
But Mr Milburn rejected the suggestion that grammar schools should be re-introduced, saying that they might have worked when there were 250,000 university students but would not be relevant when there were 2.5 million.
'Surrogate pushy parent''Surrogate pushy parent'
The wide-ranging study by an independent panel of experts, Fair Access to the Professions, calls for more equal opportunities in education and employment.The wide-ranging study by an independent panel of experts, Fair Access to the Professions, calls for more equal opportunities in education and employment.
SOCIAL MOBILITY REPORT Final Report on Fair Access to the Professions Summary and recommendations Download the reader hereSOCIAL MOBILITY REPORT Final Report on Fair Access to the Professions Summary and recommendations Download the reader here
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.
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 privately educated.Currently 75% of judges and 45% of senior civil servants are privately educated.
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. Mr Milburn warned of the "forgotten middle class" which could not compete with the advantages of the most privileged families, but which also did not benefit from the support targeted at the poorest.
The report 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: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.
  • University students should be recruited from a wider range of social backgrounds, with no-fee degrees for students living at home
  • Higher education to be more widely available in further education education colleges
  • Universities to become more involved in schools, such as by having representatives on boards of governors.
  • Professions and universities to publish more details on the social background of their intake
  • Better careers advice raising pupils' aspirations
  • More extra-curricular activity for state school pupils, such as cadet forces
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.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.
The efforts to widen participation had not been cost effective, Mr Milburn suggested.
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.
HAVE YOUR SAY Perhaps social mobility could be improved by scrapping tuition fees and loans Paul Young, Congleton Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Perhaps social mobility could be improved by scrapping tuition fees and loans Paul Young, Congleton Send us your comments
The prime minister's official spokesman said Gordon Brown welcomed the report, which would get "a fair wind" in Whitehall, while Business Minister Pat McFadden said it provided "a welcome and rigorous examination of where we have done well and where we have fallen short".The prime minister's official spokesman said Gordon Brown welcomed the report, which would get "a fair wind" in Whitehall, while Business Minister Pat McFadden said it 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."
Lib Dem schools spokesman David Laws said finding the resources to tackle social mobility in the coming years would be a "challenge".Lib Dem schools spokesman David Laws said finding the resources to tackle social mobility in the coming years would be a "challenge".
"Labour's tragedy is that on many measures Britain is less equal today than it was when Tony Blair was elected in 1997," Mr Laws said."Labour's tragedy is that on many measures Britain is less equal today than it was when Tony Blair was elected in 1997," Mr Laws said.
"Alan Milburn's report includes some useful proposals to improve social mobility - but the most important measures must involve early intervention and improved educational opportunities.""Alan Milburn's report includes some useful proposals to improve social mobility - but the most important measures must involve early intervention and improved educational opportunities."
The British Medical Association (BMA) said it welcomed some of the report's recommendations, but said the government had restricted Mr Milburn's remit too tightly.The British Medical Association (BMA) said it welcomed some of the report's recommendations, but said the government had restricted Mr Milburn's remit too tightly.
Tim Crocker-Buqueof the BMA said just 4% of medical students came from the bottom two socio-economic groups, adding: "Fee exemptions for students living at home will not solve this problem as most medical students do not live within travelling distance of the 32 medical schools in the UK."Tim Crocker-Buqueof the BMA said just 4% of medical students came from the bottom two socio-economic groups, adding: "Fee exemptions for students living at home will not solve this problem as most medical students do not live within travelling distance of the 32 medical schools in the UK."
Collette Marshall, Save the Children UK director, said the government "needs to close the educational attainment gap far earlier" if it wants to widen access.Collette Marshall, Save the Children UK director, said the government "needs to close the educational attainment gap far earlier" if it wants to widen access.
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