Social mobility cold spots will get worse unless action is taken to close attainment gap, MPs warn

Social mobility “cold spots” in England are likely to get colder if action is not taken, a cross-party group of MPs and peers warn. There could be serious repercussions for children’s achievement in these areas, such as Norfolk, Somerset and Blackpool, if the government does not offer more support, a report on social mobility says. The all-party parliamentary group on social mobility is calling for ring-fenced funding for children’s centres and for high-quality early years provision to be offered to the poorest children. The emergence of large areas of low educational attainment have contributed to deep social divisions in Britain, the report warns. The progress of disadvantaged pupils in England lags behind their classmates by around half a grade per subject at GCSE. But the attainment gap is much worse in certain areas of the country. Read More