Social Mobility

(asked on 22nd January 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by Sutton Trust Elites in the UK: Pulling Away?, published on 22 January; and what action, if any, they plan to take in response.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Agnew of Oulton
This question was answered on 5th February 2020

We welcome this report from the Sutton Trust on the vital question of how we ensure everyone can make the most of their potential. Talent is evenly spread across the country, but opportunity is not, which is why we are committed to making sure that every child, in every part of the country, has a fair chance.

Employment rates have increased in every region and nation of the UK and higher skilled roles make up over 80% of the employment growth since 2010. We are investing an additional £14 billion over 3 years so that every child gets a world-class education and last year there was a record rate of 18 year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds going to university. At the same time, the government is working to make sure that more learners from disadvantaged areas undertake apprenticeships that offer higher returns.

At school, against a background of rising standards, disadvantaged pupils are narrowing the attainment gap at age 11 and age 16. Our reforms, and the focus provided by the £2.4 billion pupil premium, have supported this improvement. Most disadvantaged pupils attend a Good school or better.

The law is clear that anyone in work is entitled to receive the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage and the government is committed to enforcing this right across the country as well as levelling up investment in towns through our £3.6 billion Towns Fund.

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