London leads the way on social mobility
A charity has found there are huge differences in education and employment outcomes for the poorest young people across England, with London far ahead of other regions in providing opportunities for social mobility.
In a new report, using data on over 10 million young people across two decades, the Sutton Trust has produced an ‘opportunity index’. This ranks all the constituencies in England by the school attainment, access to higher education, employment status and earnings of young people eligible for free school meals (FSM) at secondary school. Measures used included the share of children on FSM who achieve passes in GCSE maths and English, who complete a degree by age 22, and who are in the top fifth of earners at age 28.
The data reveals that London constituencies occupy all of the top 20, and 42 of the top 50, constituencies for opportunity. Meanwhile, the North East and North West are overrepresented among the lowest ranked areas for opportunity, as are constituencies dominated by towns and semi-rural areas. The report highlights the contrast between East Ham in London, ranked as the top constituency for opportunity in England, with Newcastle Upon Tyne Central and West, which is ranked lowest. There is a stark difference in prospects for social mobility between these two constituencies, especially as both areas have similar levels of FSM eligibility (37 per cent and 35 per cent respectively). Between these two areas, there is a 30 percentage point difference between the proportion of pupils eligible for FSM achieving passes in English and maths GCSE, and a 45 percentage point gap in the proportion going on to sustained education or employment after GCSEs.
The research also reveals high levels of inequality in employment and training status across constituencies within the same regions, judging by levels of those not in sustained education, employment or training. ‘We’ve found drastic inequalities of opportunity across the South East, which is typically thought of as a prosperous region’, said Carl Cullinane, director of research and policy at the Sutton Trust, adding: ‘Sevenoaks in Kent is the English constituency with the highest proportion of free school meals pupils not in education or employment at the age of 28, at 57 per cent. But Bicester and Woodstock in the same region has the lowest rate at 30 per cent.’
Within the Greensheets distribution area, the highest ranked constituencies for social mobility were Windsor (40th) and Feltham & Heston (41st).
Nick Harrison, CEO of the Sutton Trust, said, ‘This research paints a startling picture of inequality of opportunity across England. The life chances of disadvantaged young people remain strongly tied to where they grow up. If the Government genuinely wants to break down barriers to opportunity, we need serious investment in education and economic opportunities in the ‘left behind’ parts of the UK. Failing to act is damaging the life changes of too many of the next generation.’
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, commented: ‘We must dismantle the structural causes of this inequality. Education can provide young people with opportunities to thrive, but schools need to be properly supported to deliver it. The National Funding Formula has been shifting resources from schools that are most in need towards those which are most well off. We need a better funding deal for all education, and a readjustment of the formula to make sure the most disadvantaged schools get the support they need.’
A DfE spokesperson said: ‘High and rising standards are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and ensure where you come from does not determine your future success. This government has inherited a system with baked-in inequalities, which we’re tackling head-on through our plan for change by rolling out free breakfast clubs, improving mental health support, investing over £3bn to support those children who need it most and delivering a rich and broad curriculum so pupils are set up for life, work and the future.’
Full report: https://tinyurl.com/5n7suscu