Fenland is a social mobility ‘cold spot’ struggling to give youngsters a decent education and the opportunity of a good job, suggests a major new report.
Fenland came fifth from bottom (319th out of 324 local authority areas) in the Social Mobility Index Report, which found that a poor child’s life chances are heavily dependant on where they live.
The findings suggest “a new geography of disadvantage” and a complex and changing “opportunity map” of England, said commission chairman Alan Milburn.
“The findings lay bare the local lottery in social mobility,” he added.
“This report is a wake-up call for educators and employers as well as policy-makers, both local and national.
“If social mobility is to take off, much more will need to be done if there is to be a level playing field of opportunity in our country. The gulf between the ambition of a One Nation Britain and today’s reality of a Divided Britain is far too wide.”
The index, published by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission, ranks each of England’s 324 local authority areas on the chances of a poor child doing well at school and getting a good job, based on a series of measures including exam results and the local job and housing market.
The findings come amid continuing concerns about the life chances of poor children.
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