Decision Making Excercise 2012

SAQs 1.The evidence supports Stephen Morris to some extent when he states, “Statistics show Scottish universities have, on average, a minority of students with parents from a working-class background, with Edinburgh and Glasgow universities having the lowest figures”. Source C1 shows he is correct as only a minority of university students are from working-class background eg Scotland average 28.2%. But he is incorrect as St Andrews has the lowest intake of students from a non-professional background. 2.Stephen Morris is exaggerating when he states, “Currently, the professions are completely dominated by those who have been privately educated at fee-paying schools.” Source C2 shows that the senior positions are not completely dominated by those independently educated for example only MPs 35% independently educated.

3. Gillian Gilbert is exaggerating when she states that, “Research shows that a majority of young people believe better advice and information would be most likely to help them enter a professional career. Source C3 shows that more young people believe more financial support (57%) is the best way to encourage young people into a professional career. 4.The evidence supports Gillian Gilbert to some extent when she states, “Although around a third of students from working-class backgrounds study subjects such as law or biological science, it would be better to encourage young people into skilled trades where wages are higher than professional salaries.” Source C4 shows Gillian Gilbert to be correct around a third of students from a working-class background do study biological science (33.8%) or law (34.1%). But incorrect when C5 shows that wages in skilled trades are not higher than professional salaries.

Title: Equality Role and Remit: I am an education policy adviser asked to prepare a report for the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Education and Life Long Learning in which I am making a recommendation regarding the future of Breakthrough, which is a proposal to set aside at least 33% of places at Scottish universities for young people from a working-class background. Recommendation: I am recommending breakthrough should be used to set aside 33% of places at Scottish Universities for young people from a working class background.

Arguments for proposal: A C1 BK Arguments for my Proposal: 1.Equal opportunity to go to university on merit is needed for the future of Scotland. Statistics show Scottish universities have, on average a minority of students with parents from a working-class background. 29% of Scottish students are from a working class background. Scotland offers free tuition to University to improve equality, there should be pupils from a greater range of social class than what there is currently.

B C1 C4 BK Arguments against my proposal and rebuttal: 1.My opponents would say, that it cannot be fair that better off university candidates are discriminated against because of their social class. 43% of students at UHI Millenium Institute are from working class backgrounds. But they are wrong because only 18% of students studying medicine are from a working class background. The UK’s Gini Coefficient is 0.34, something has to be done to repair this inequality.

BK Aims of welfare state were to get rid of the 5 giant evils – want, squalor, ignorance, idleness, disease. F.P. of welfare state – equality of opportunity, equal distribution of wealth, and public responsibility. 3.5 million children living in poverty in UK By 16, children receiving free school meals achieve 1.7 grades lower at GCSE than their wealthier peers. Child poverty reduced dramatically between when 1.1 million children were lifted out of poverty. Under current government policies, child poverty is projected to rise from 2012 with an expected 600,000 more children living in poverty by Annual Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion 2013: Almost 13 million people are living in poverty in the UK. Poorer members of society are under more pressure than at any time since the birth of the welfare state. Field Report - It is family background, parental education, good parenting and the opportunities for learning and development in those crucial years that together matter more to children than money, in determining whether their potential is realised in adult life. By the age of three, a baby’s brain is 80% formed and his or her experiences before then shape the way the brain has grown and developed. Hills Report - The richest 10% of the population are more than 100 times as wealthy as the poorest 10% of society.

Equally Well - Scotland's health is improving. But there are big differences between rich and poor. In 2006, men could on average expect 67.9 years of healthy life and women 69 years. In the most deprived 15% of areas in Scotland, though, men could only expect 57.3 years of healthy life and women 59 years.* Life Expectancy - The most recent annual estimates for Scotland are for boys born in 2012 to live 76.9 years on average, 59.4 of these in a 'healthy' state. Girls born in 2012 would be expected to live 80.9 years on average, 62.0 of these years being 'healthy‘. Average income - £26,472 Minimum Wage - £14, Welfare Bill - The main elements of the act are: – the introduction of Universal Credit to provide a single payment that will encourage people to work – tougher penalties for the most serious offences to reduce fraud and error – a new ‘claimant commitment’ showing clearly what is expected of claimants while giving protection to those with the greatest needs – reforms to Disability Living Allowance, through the introduction of Personal Independence Payment to meet the needs of disabled people today – creating a fairer approach to Housing Benefit (Benefit Cap and ‘Bedroom Tax’) – reforming ESA (Employment Support Allowance) to make the benefit fairer and to ensure that help goes to those with the greatest need – changes to support a new system of child support which puts the interest of the child first Marmot Review for England said People with higher socioeconomic position in society: have a greater array of life chances and more opportunities to lead a flourishing life. They also have better health. The two are linked: the more favoured people are, socially and economically, the better their health.