Government measures aim to bolster social mobility through education

The government has announced a series of new educational measures that are intended to help improve standards of social mobility across the country.

Dubbed 'Unlocking Talent, Fulfilling Potential', the efforts will deliver £800 million of government investment to enhance literacy standards among children from disadvantaged backgrounds, close the attainment gap between rich and poor students, and ensure young people from all walks of life have access to a full range of educational and career options.

A total of £50 million is being allocated to bolster school nursery provision in some of the most challenging areas of the country, ensuring more children are able to benefit from early education support before they arrive at primary school, while a £23 million Future Talent Fund is being established to trial new teaching approaches targeting talented children from poor communities.

Additionally, a consultation will be launched on proposals to enhance early careers support and professional development for teachers, particularly those working in challenging schools and areas. This will help to further drive up educational standards by attracting and retaining the best teachers.

Education secretary Justine Greening said: "In modern Britain, where you are born, where you live, where you go to school and where you work directly affects where you get to in life.

"Talent is spread evenly across this country; the problem is that opportunity isn't. We need systemic change and we need everyone - government, employers, education professionals and civil society - to work together so that social mobility runs through everything we all do."

With a recent study suggesting that economic benefits of around £20 billion would be unlocked if disadvantaged pupils across all English regions performed as well as disadvantaged pupils in London, the potential advantages of addressing these issues are clear.