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Poor still at disadvantage, says Milburn
Joe Murphy, Political Editor12 Jan 2009
GORDON Brown's new czar on social mobility today admitted that the Government had not done enough to help poor children.
Alan Milburn spoke out as a new study found that children's chances of success still depend largely on whether their parents are well off. "I would say we have raised the glass ceiling but not broken through it," he said. "More action is required."
The Social Mobility Commission findings suggest higher education spending under Labour has largely benefited the better off.
It found that only a third of pupils eligible for free school meals obtained five good GCSEs, compared with 63 per cent of better-off children, and the proportion of poorer children getting degrees was up three per cent while the rise among the wealthy was 26 per cent.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: "This expert analysis shatters the idea that Britain in 2009 is a free and fair society."
Reader views (5)
It is probably truer to say that educated children are the result of educated parents. I suspect many are in fact the offspring of those lucky enough to have attended grammar schools in the past. And those lucky enough to have attended grammar schools are probably also those who have become well off, and who are savvy enough to realize that, in the absence of grammars, there is now little choice but to go private. Bring back the grammars, bring back education.
- Naomi Sajeri, Manchester, 12/01/2009 22:09
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This is typical reserch mis read. Children of 'successful' parents grow up to be sucessful. Wealth just follows success. Children of 'looser' parents grow up to be loosers, ad as such have less money.
As my dad used to say 'the best thing you can do to help the poor is make sure you're ot one of them.'
- Ben, London, W1, 12/01/2009 20:57
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The problem is the parlous state of state education. The only proven way to make a difference was the Grammar system yet is considered beyond the pale for some reason. Middle class kids don't do better because their parents have money, they do better because their parents know the value of an education and can afford to get them out of the state sector. You can't buy an education merely the opportunity of one.
- Mark, London, 12/01/2009 16:48
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Give them all a 1 time payment of 1 million pounds.
After all we hear time and time again its a money issue. Odds are that within 6 months, if not sooner, most of the new millionaires will be poor again. After this experiment, we can begin to talk about the real reasons for them being poor and quit throwing money at the situation.
- Trunk, US, 12/01/2009 16:00
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I disagree Gordon Brown has done loads for poor people. His tax and splurge /borrow and more splurge policies, have created LOADS of poor people and in fact look to be creating a nation of poor people. What more could they want. Everyone else will soon be as poor as they are!
Then there is his import loads of new poor people policies with his open up the borders (and look the other way for ten years) policy.
He's a genius 'who saved every one of us' Crash...
- Ethan Edwards, UK, 12/01/2009 15:54
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