United Kingdom: Forget about social mobility

Let it not be said that the revelations in the UK of the lack of social mobility, and the stark disparity between the poor and those reasonably well off, isn't only scandalous but rife for wide protests by the so-called 1%. There can be little doubt that the same situation can be replicated in many other countries.

"There is a "stark gap" between the life chances of the poorest and the better-off in Britain, the Government will admit today, as it publishes alarming research that reveals how wide that gulf is.

The study, to be unveiled by Nick Clegg, shows that:

l One child in five is on free school meals, but only one in 100 Oxbridge entrants is.

l Only 7 per cent of children attend private schools, but these schools provide 70 per cent of High Court judges and 54 per cent of FTSE 100 chief executives.

l One in five children from poorer homes achieves five good GCSEs, compared with three out of four from affluent homes."

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