Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps his Department has taken to improve social mobility.

In December 2017 the department published the report ‘Unlocking Talent, Fulfilling Potential’, which is our plan for improving social mobility through education.

The plan set out five ambitions which cover the key life stages of people’s education, around which my department’s objectives are also structured. These include ensuring that no community is left behind, with all children able to flourish in a safe and stable environment, and closing the ‘word gap’ in early years. They also include closing the attainment gap in school while continuing to raise standards for all, ensuring there are high-quality post-16 choices for all young people and supporting everyone to achieve their potential in rewarding careers.

In the summer, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State announced plans to host a summit with the BBC, the National Literacy Trust, Public Health England and other major businesses to tackle children’s language and literacy in order to boost social mobility in the early years.

We have also recently confirmed Dame Martina Milburn as Chair of the Social Mobility Commission and have started the recruitment process for new Commissioners.