1. Stephen Meek Director of Strategy, DfES 26 April 2006
Social Mobility – Narrowing Social Class Attainment Gaps A summary of the evidence and lessons for policy making
Stephen Meek
Director of Strategy, DfES
26 April 2006

2. Extensive review of evidence to explore:
Overview of the work
Extensive review of evidence to explore:
What we know about social class attainment gaps? What drives the attainment gap? What impact has policy had, and what are the lessons for policy making?

3. Other countries’ experience confirms the nature of the challenge, and shows that this issue is not unique to the UK
Relationship between the average performance of participating countries on the PISA reading literacy scale and the socio-economic gap in student performance: 2000
Size of gap not inevitable, but:
Driven by deep social factors more than structure of education system (though feedback)
Hardest to reach are hard to reach.

4. Achieving both of those objectives simultaneously is challenging
Creating a high-performance/high-equity system: reducing the attainment gap and increasing the average level of attainment
Educational Attainment Levels in England: Present and Future (Indicative Only)
High
Average:
High SEG
Average:
High SEG
Average: All
Gap
Attainment
Levels
Average:
Low SEG
Average: All
Gap
Average:
Low SEG
Low
NOW
THE FUTURE
Achieving both of those objectives simultaneously is challenging

5. What do we know about social class attainment gaps
What do we know about social class attainment gaps? What drives the attainment gap? What impact has policy had, and what are the lessons for policy making?

6. There is evidence of a social class attainment gap at Foundation Stage…
Percentage of 5 year olds achieving a ‘good’ level of development by the end of Foundation Stage in schools in Sure Start areas compared with all schools in England (national average): 2005
(%)

7. …the attainment gap is similarly evident at pupil-level across all Key Stages in School…
Average Point Score for Pupils by Free School
Meal (FSM) Status for Key Stages 1 to 4: 2005
(Points)
Non-FSM Pupils
FSM Pupils
Key Stage 1
Key Stage 2
Key Stage 3
Key Stage 4(2)

8. As well as increases in attainment, there has been a minor narrowing of the gap at KS3 and 4, though overall gap remains signficant
Change in Average Point Score for Pupils by
Free School Meal (FSM) Status for Key Stages 2, 3 and 4
(Points)
Key Stage 2 ( )
Key Stage 3 ( )
Key Stage 4 ( )
Points
Minor widening
Points
Points
Minor narrowing
Improvement
Improvement
Improvement
Minor narrowing
Non
FSM
FSM
Total
Non
FSM
FSM
Total
Non
FSM
FSM
Total
(1)

9. While prior attainment becomes increasingly important, deprivation has impact at all attainment levels
Proportion in FT Education at 16 by Year 11 Attainment
and Parental Occupation Classification (NS-SEC): 2003
(%)
Prior Attainment at GCSE

10. Unqualified school leavers who go on to acquire a level 2 qualification have better job prospects
Employment rates of unqualified school leavers who
later attain against qualified school leavers
(%)

11. What do we know about social class attainment gaps
What do we know about social class attainment gaps? What drives the attainment gap? What impact has policy had, and what are the lessons for policy making?

12. Tackling social factors is critical, but they are harder to affect
Social factors are the biggest driver of the attainment gap – but our educational levers are stronger
The most significant factors behind a child’s achievement are social, and in particular, parental. However, it is harder for government to intervene to effect change here.
Though less of a driver of the social class attainment gap than social factors and individual characteristics, the evidence of the positive impact of educational interventions is more tangible.
Tackling social factors is critical, but they are harder to affect
Educational interventions can be effective, even though their potential impact is smaller

13. What do we know about social class attainment gaps
What do we know about social class attainment gaps? What drives the attainment gap? What impact has policy had, and what are the lessons for policy making?

14. Summary: Early years
Pre-school attendance has a positive effect on attainment in primary school,
Access to childcare provision supports parental employment, which is likely to lead to better child outcomes
Lessons for policy making
take-up is lower among children from lower SEGs –
we need a better understanding of any ‘quality gap’ and its impact on child development
Evidence from the Sure Start evaluation points to ensuring interventions reach the most disadvantaged
Need to sustain impact through school for early investment to have lasting consequences

15. Summary: family policy
limited evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to improve parenting skills,
those programmes which have an impact are often highly targeted, specialised and costly
Specific interventions to improve parenting skills
Young people who live in single-parent/carer households or workless households often have lower attainment levels
Increasing employment rates should raise family income, and permanent income does appear to matter for child development.
The Department can support employment through access to childcare and through improving adult skill levels
Improving family circumstances

16. Curriculum, Teaching and Support
Summary: School age
Risks that the present floor target regime on its own doesn’t sufficiently focus effort on the lowest attaining pupils, or on children with potential to achieve very highly
Intervention in failing schools has disproportionately benefited deprived pupils
Funding is distributed at national level to recognise deprivation but this is often not reflected in Local Authorities allocation
Increased funding can drive higher attainment among low SEG pupils, especially if linked with particular teaching and learning strategies
Use of personalised interventions such as catch-up literacy and small group tuition can help FSM children
Extended Schools have considerable potential – but need to ensure access
Not just for low-attaining deprived pupils – deprived pupils at risk of slower progress at all levels of attainment
Education Bill ensures pupils from deprived backgrounds are not disadvantaged in admissions, and are supported in making choices about schools.
School System
Funding
Curriculum, Teaching and Support
Choice and Access

17. Summary: 14-19
14-19 Qualifications and Curriculum Reforms have Two Broad Objectives
Breaking the cycle of student disengagement
Participation lower among low SEG groups
Raising attainment
Ensuring that all students reach Level 2 by age 19:a new ambition for 85% of all young people to achieve this by 2013, rising to 90% thereafter

18. Summary: 19+
HE - while prior attainment is the key determinant of access to Higher Education, aspirations and expectations still play a critical role.
Raising the skill levels of adults with few or no qualifications has potential intergenerational benefits, but making significant inroads into the stock is a big challenge,
And evidence from the National Employer Training pilots suggested a need for targeting of employers who do not already provide time off for low skilled employees to train to qualifications to extend reach and impact

19. Six general lessons underpin our approach to narrowing the social class attainment gap
1. Higher Profile
2. Better Measurement
3. Early and sustained high quality interventions
4. Personalised Interventions
5. Improved understanding of key groups
6. Sharing Best Practice

20. Key conclusions
We are seeking to achieve an education system characterised by excellence and equity
The evidence suggests that we need to think hard about accountabilities and incentives in the education system
Key areas include:
A continued focus on raising attainment for all in the early years
A target to increase the number of children at age 5 who achieve a good level of development from 48% to 53% by 2008
Incentives to encourage progression for all students at all key stages, and possibly a target to this effect
Ensuring that nearly all students reach Level 2 by age 19
A new ambition for 85% of all young people to achieve this by 2013, rising to 90% thereafter

21. Stephen Meek Director of Strategy, DfES 26 April 2006
Social Mobility – Narrowing Social Class Attainment Gaps A summary of the evidence and lessons for policy making
Stephen Meek
Director of Strategy, DfES
26 April 2006