Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has launched the Coalition government’s social mobility strategy, Opening Doors, Breaking Barriers. The strategy focuses on inter-generational social mobility, with the aim of ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to get a better job than their parents.

The approach moves away from income measures to support disadvantaged families to family intervention and an aspiration to extend pre-school provision to disadvantaged two-year-olds.

The report outlines five broad principles that underpin the government’s approach.

• We take a long-term view. Social mobility is, by definition, a long-term challenge. Our investments and policy decisions will reflect that. There are no quick fixes.
• We will take a progressive approach, focusing most resources on those from disadvantaged backgrounds, but narrowing gaps in opportunity all the way up the income scale.
• We recognise that Government does not have all the answers and that improving social mobility requires the whole of society to play its part. We will challenge ourselves and others to do better, supported by greater accountability and transparency.
• We will adopt a ruthlessly evidence-based approach, channelling effort and finance in the ways most likely to impact positively on social mobility.
•  Our plans to boost social mobility impact across the life cycle from the Foundation Years through school life, and the key transitions from education into the working world.

To read the full report, download Opening Doors, Breaking Barriers.

See also:
PSE: UK response to social mobility strategy
PSE: UK response to the Field Review consultation