Monitoring social mobility 2013 to 2020
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The Social Mobility Commission has today (Wednesday 10 June) called
for a new joined-up approach to promoting social mobility after
government departments failed to act on a third of its key
recommendations in the last 7 years. With the coronavirus
(COVID-19) outbreak already having a devastating impact on the
poorest groups it was imperative to tackle social inequality more
effectively, it argued. The commission’s new report
- Monitoring Social Mobility 2013 to 2020:...Request free trial
The Social Mobility Commission has today (Wednesday 10 June) called for a new joined-up approach to promoting social mobility after government departments failed to act on a third of its key recommendations in the last 7 years. With the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak already having a devastating impact on the poorest groups it was imperative to tackle social inequality more effectively, it argued. The commission’s new report - Monitoring Social Mobility 2013 to 2020: Is the government delivering on our recommendations? based on a comprehensive audit of government action on social mobility, reveals a disappointing level of progress. The 52 proposals, made by the commission between 2013 and 2020, covered a range of policy areas including:
On a third of recommendations (31%) there was no or very little action, resulting in a red rag rating. On almost half (46%) there was some but insufficient progress – an amber rag rating. Only on a quarter (23%) had strong progress been made or the proposal delivered – a green rag rating. The responses also exposed the lack of joined-up thinking and activity across Whitehall which is impeding progress on social mobility. The commission concluded that a dedicated unit should be set up at the heart of government to coordinate action and ensure its recommendations were delivered. Dame Martina Milburn, outgoing Chair of the Commission, said:
The report shows that prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, there was some evidence of progress in increasing life chances for poorer groups. More disadvantaged pupils were staying in education for longer and more poorer students were going into higher education and employment. Good progress had also been made on supporting parents from disadvantaged backgrounds with help for home learning, and in eradicating illiteracy and innumeracy in primary schools. The government had also published proposals to reduce health inequalities in its NHS long term plan and made progress on mental health support for young people. But the commission also identified several areas of ‘major concern’ where the government had failed to deliver. Key areas where more progress is neededPoverty600,000 more children are now living in relative poverty than in 2012 but this is projected to increase further due to benefit changes and coronavirus (COVID-19). Children from black and minority ethnic groups are more likely to be in poverty: 45% compared with 26% of children in white British families. The government should be more proactive in addressing poverty overall. Early years45% of the early years’ workforce are on tax credits or benefits. Steps need to be taken to increase the status and prestige of these workers. The government has declined to expand eligibility for the 30-hour childcare offer. SchoolsAt aged 16, only 24.7% of disadvantaged students get a good pass in English and maths GSCE, compared with 49.9% of all other pupils. The attainment gap persists and will continue to do so unless there is a joined-up approach. Post 16 educationThere has been no move to give extra help to disadvantaged pupils aged 16 to 19 through a student premium. The government does not do enough to prioritise disadvantaged young people in this age group. EmploymentHalf of all adults from the poorest backgrounds receive no training at all after leaving school. The government has not done enough to reverse declining participation in adult education and training. HealthLife expectancy is falling for women in the most deprived 10% of areas. Issues around health inequalities and race linked to socio-economic background have also been exposed by coronavirus (COVID-19) and need to be addressed. Place and regionsDevolution to regions and metro mayors has failed to adequately tackle regional imbalances or improve social mobility outcomes. There is no evidence of cross-government working on social mobility. Sandra Wallace, joint deputy chair of the commission, said:
Given the damaging economic impact of coronavirus (COVID-19), the commission said it was vital to design a ‘recovery plan to meet the needs of the most vulnerable’ and set out an 8 point plan for the government to achieve greater social mobility in the UK.
Steven Cooper, joint deputy chair of the commission said:
Notes to editorsThe commission rated the government responses for their progress on each question on three relevant aspects: the intent to support social mobility, the process in place to do so and evidence of any outcomes they achieved. Under the RAG rating scheme, the bottom third of scores were red, the middle third amber and the top third were green. The Social Mobility Commission is an independent advisory non-departmental public body established under the Life Chances Act 2010 as modified by the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016. It has a duty to assess progress in improving social mobility in the UK and to promote social mobility in England. The Commission board comprises:
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