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Education 'fails poorer children' | Education 'fails poorer children' |
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A cross-party commission should be set up to examine the reasons behind the UK's very low social mobility, an education charity says. | A cross-party commission should be set up to examine the reasons behind the UK's very low social mobility, an education charity says. |
The Sutton Trust says the government's education policy has failed to give poorer children the chance to improve quality of life. | The Sutton Trust says the government's education policy has failed to give poorer children the chance to improve quality of life. |
Its founder Sir Peter Lampl says the problem "goes beyond party politics". | Its founder Sir Peter Lampl says the problem "goes beyond party politics". |
Tory leader David Cameron backed the call for a commission, saying there was "a problem of fairness" in the UK. | Tory leader David Cameron backed the call for a commission, saying there was "a problem of fairness" in the UK. |
HAVE YOUR SAY It's not about how much money your family has, it's about how hard you work Martin, London Send us your comments | |
Sir Peter said: "Both Gordon Brown and David Cameron have acknowledged the seriousness of this issue, but our low level of social mobility is a problem that goes beyond party politics. | |
Escaping poverty | Escaping poverty |
"It is a national issue which requires a national solution. We urgently need an independent cross-party commission to examine why our record is so poor and how we can address this." | "It is a national issue which requires a national solution. We urgently need an independent cross-party commission to examine why our record is so poor and how we can address this." |
The study found that children born in the 1950s had a better chance of escaping poverty than those born in 1970. | The study found that children born in the 1950s had a better chance of escaping poverty than those born in 1970. |
What we've moved towards is a socially selective system Sir Peter LamplSutton Trust | What we've moved towards is a socially selective system Sir Peter LamplSutton Trust |
The decline in social mobility seen during the 1970s and 1980s has now flattened off, the report concludes, but shows no sign of reversing. | The decline in social mobility seen during the 1970s and 1980s has now flattened off, the report concludes, but shows no sign of reversing. |
The UK comes bottom of the table of developed countries for which there is data available, it adds. | The UK comes bottom of the table of developed countries for which there is data available, it adds. |
The report coincides with a series on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Humphrys on Class, looking at issues surrounding the divide between the rich and poor in Britain. | The report coincides with a series on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Humphrys on Class, looking at issues surrounding the divide between the rich and poor in Britain. |
Greater opportunities | Greater opportunities |
The research for the Sutton Trust was carried out by the London School of Economics (LSE). | |
If people aren't achieving according to their talents, according to their potential, it's a huge waste for them, it's a huge waste for society, but it's also deeply unfair David Cameron | If people aren't achieving according to their talents, according to their potential, it's a huge waste for them, it's a huge waste for society, but it's also deeply unfair David Cameron |
Professor Steve Machin, from LSE, said: "We had a very big expansion of the higher education system in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but contrary to many people's expectations this actually reinforced social immobility." | Professor Steve Machin, from LSE, said: "We had a very big expansion of the higher education system in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but contrary to many people's expectations this actually reinforced social immobility." |
He said people at the bottom of the "income distribution" were ill-equipped to take advantage of the greater opportunities. | He said people at the bottom of the "income distribution" were ill-equipped to take advantage of the greater opportunities. |
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Cameron said: "To me it's a problem of fairness, because if people aren't achieving according to their talents, according to their potential, it's a huge waste for them, it's a huge waste for society, but it's also deeply unfair." | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Cameron said: "To me it's a problem of fairness, because if people aren't achieving according to their talents, according to their potential, it's a huge waste for them, it's a huge waste for society, but it's also deeply unfair." |
He said the "absolute driver of social mobility" was education and recommended the building of more schools, including city academies. | He said the "absolute driver of social mobility" was education and recommended the building of more schools, including city academies. |
'Democratising selection' | |
The Sutton Trust says better provision of early years education is needed to prevent children falling behind by the age of three. | The Sutton Trust says better provision of early years education is needed to prevent children falling behind by the age of three. |
It also wants to "democratise selection" at independent schools, deciding access by lottery and funding places for poorer children who cannot afford the fees. | It also wants to "democratise selection" at independent schools, deciding access by lottery and funding places for poorer children who cannot afford the fees. |
Meanwhile, a separate report by the Economic Research Council concluded that education should be made more competitive in order to reward talent. | |
Social mobility Based on "intergenerational earnings elasticity"Compares children's earnings with their parentsA close correlation indicates little change in social standing between generations | |
The council says more children from wider social backgrounds should have the opportunity to attend cheaper private schools and selective grammars. | |
It wants to see new, cheaper private schools given tax concessions from the government as well as prestigious independent schools like Eton and Harrow offering more scholarships and "lower-price" options to poorer pupils. | |
The study's author, Professor Dennis O'Keeffe, from the University of Buckingham, said competitive education and "the dramatically effective way it encourages, identifies and rewards talent" increased social mobility. |