Industry News
Social mobility declining, claims Tory
Posted on 13th December 2007
Social mobility is declining in Britain as the poorest fail to benefit from the expansion of higher education, a politician has warned.
David Willetts, shadow education secretary, told the National Extension College that primary school reading levels are vital to improving upward mobility, the BBC reports.
He called for action to boost boys' performance in school, which is poor compared to girls.
Mr Willetts also speculated that an increase in gender equality had increased inequality between social classes.
"Of course it is right to widen opportunities for women, but paradoxically at the same time this has strengthened some of the forces passing on income and wealth from one generation to the next," he commented.
Earlier this year, Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust, called for Labour to return a scheme they had ended which subsidised private school places for poorer pupils, the Daily Telegraph reports.
© Adfero Ltd