{"id":82490,"date":"2017-07-12T16:47:03","date_gmt":"2017-07-12T16:47:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=1d5bcb636285d77515fe8b4ac4bb1cea"},"modified":"2017-07-12T16:47:03","modified_gmt":"2017-07-12T16:47:03","slug":"news-story-education-secretary-unveils-schemes-to-tackle-social-mobility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=82490","title":{"rendered":"News story: Education Secretary unveils schemes to tackle social mobility"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

New initiatives to tackle social mobility and help pupils from all backgrounds reach their full potential were announced today (12 July) in a keynote speech<\/a> by the Education Secretary Justine Greening.<\/p>\n

Speaking at the Sutton Trust Social Mobility Summit, to mark its 20th anniversary, the Education Secretary confirmed that leading national and local businesses have signed up to provide careers advice to young people in 12 \u2018Opportunity Areas\u2019<\/a>, which were announced in her speech at PwC in January<\/a>, with the support of a \u00a32million government-backed fund.<\/p>\n

Building on the programme of activity being led in these areas, Justine Greening also named the schools that will act as Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) Research Schools in the Opportunity Areas. These schools will get a share of \u00a33.5million to gather and share evidence of best practice on social mobility to help teachers tackle this issue in their schools.<\/p>\n

Sir Kevan Collins has been appointed as the Evidence Champion for the Opportunity Areas to ensure intelligence is shared effectively across the twelve areas. The Chairs of the Partnership Boards \u2013 responsible for driving forward activity in each Opportunity Area \u2013 have been named for Derby, West Somerset and Scarborough.<\/p>\n

Alongside this, Justine Greening reaffirmed her commitment to supporting the teaching profession, enabling teachers to be the best they can help every pupil to achieve their potential.<\/p>\n

The announcement comes as new research published by the Sutton Trust shows that tackling social mobility could boost our annual GDP by \u00a339billlion \u2013 the equivalent of \u00a3590 per person.<\/p>\n

Education Secretary Justine Greening said:<\/p>\n

\n

This is not just a mission for government, or a mission just for the Sutton Trust. It is a generational mission for all of us.<\/p>\n

We don\u2019t have to accept Britain as it has been in the past. Ours is a generation that can build something better. It is a simple idea. It is a powerful idea. It is an urgent idea.<\/p>\n

I believe now we absolutely need to fix social mobility, and make sure it happens. And make sure this is a country where there are no barriers to anybody becoming the best that they can be.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Supporting the teaching profession<\/h3>\n

Teachers are the great drivers of social mobility and can have the biggest impact on unlocking young people\u2019s talents. Earlier this year, the Education Secretary outlined her vision for the teaching profession<\/a>, announcing a \u00a375million Teaching and Leadership Innovation Fund to invest in high quality professional development for teachers and leaders working in challenging areas. Justine Greening confirmed that \u00a320 million \u2013 the first round of this \u2013 will go to programmes from September.<\/p>\n

The Department is also setting aside \u00a310 million from the Teaching and Leadership Innovation Fund for teachers and leaders in challenging schools to take part in the newly reformed, gold standard National Professional Qualifications to ensure these schools have great leaders.<\/p>\n

This approach will help to deliver school improvement and drive social mobility across the country and help to tackle regional inequalities in educational outcomes.<\/p>\n

Business support<\/h3>\n

Research shows that young people who have four or more workplace encounters while at school are 86% less likely to be NEET and on average will go on to earn 18% more than their peers who did not.<\/p>\n

The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) is collaborating with 40 national and local \u2018cornerstone\u2019 employers to prepare pupils for the world of work at more than 260 secondary schools and colleges in the Opportunity Areas.<\/p>\n

Employers that have signed up to this \u00a32million initiative include: Adecco; Butlins; KPMG; Michelin; Mantra Media; NatWest; PwC; and Rolls Royce. Together with the CEC, these employers will give tailored careers support to young people in the Opportunity Areas, including:<\/p>\n