Breaking through the class barrier

IT IS A TYPICAL piece of unattractive civil service jargon, but the words “social mobility” hold the key to unlocking many barriers to progress in British life.

They were repeated again and again as ministers led by Gordon Brown unveiled measures aimed at giving children from disadvantaged backgrounds a better chance.

Too many avenues are closed off to children at birth because of the hand they are dealt. Why should poorer children with talent miss out, while those who might have less talent get all the breaks because they have the right background?

Research shows that children in Britain have less chance of breaking through the class barrier and being successful than children in most other developed countries. The US is a good example. It has serious social issues, of course, but it does make a virtue out of paving the way for people from the wrong side of the tracks to be a success.

The irony is that parliamentarians of both Houses, who will vote on this legislation, epitomise for many what is wrong with British society with their background of privilege, old-boy networks and class divisions.

Much of the responsibility for social change is being thrust on schools. Good teachers can encourage and nurture talent, but what if the stuffing is being knocked out of children when they get home? Parents must be targeted as well, along with older people who can be offered a chance to turn their lives around. Most of all, politicians have their work cut out to match these lofty ambitions with results. As it stands, the system, or the establishment, appears to be stacked against them.