An all-party group of MPs has said the point of greatest ‘leverage’ for social mobility is what happens to children between ages 0 and 3, primarily in the home. They add that it is also possible to improve social mobility through education – the most important controllable factor being the quality of teaching received.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Social Mobility is aiming to produce a final report by the end of 2012. Its interim report summarises the evidence it has heard so far. It distils this into seven ‘key truths’, as follows:
- The point of greatest leverage for social mobility is what happens between ages 0 and 3, primarily in the home.
- You can also break the cycle through education…
- …the most important controllable factor being the quality of your teaching.
- But it’s also about what happens after the school bell rings.
- University is the top determinant of later opportunities – so pre-18 attainment is key.
- But later pathways to mobility are possible, given the will and support.
- Personal resilience and emotional well-being are the missing link in the chain.
Source: 7 Key Truths about Social Mobility: Interim Report, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Social Mobility
Links: Report | Guardian report | Daily Telegraph report