Rich, poor divide still separates schoolchildren: report

By Rich Bowden, M&C Staff Writer Dec 13, 2007, 9:27 GMT

Clever children from poor families are still being overtaken by less intelligent children from richer homes as social mobility remains stagnant claims a report released Thursday. EPA/MOHAMED MESSARA

(M&C) - Clever children from poor families are still being overtaken by less intelligent children from richer homes as social mobility remains stagnant claims a report released Thursday.

The Sutton Trust charity, which commissioned the study, found that a child's academic record was still linked to their parent's incomes - a situation which has not improved in 30 years.

The Trust's chairman, Peter Lampl told reporters, "Shamefully, Britain remains stuck at the bottom of the international league tables when it comes to social mobility."

He added: "It is appalling that young people's life chances are still so tied to the fortunes of their parents, and that this situation has not improved over the last three decades."

The report said, "Children in the poorest fifth of households but in the brightest group drop from the 88th percentile on cognitive tests at age three to the 65th percentile at age five."

However Minister for Children Beverley Hughes saw some positive signs in the damning report saying it was gratifying to see that, "the previous decline in social mobility in the UK appears to have stabilised".

"As we look to the future we hope to see more evidence of our reforms making a real difference to people's lives," she said.

"This new research is based on the Millennium Cohort born in 2000-01. It's far too early to say what will happen to those young people over their lifetime."

"Those children have yet to enter Key Stages 2, 3 and 4, where overall standards are continuing to rise and poverty gaps have narrowed since 2003," Ms Hughes added.