Does education improve social mobility?: A Question Time style event at the Intellectual Forum
On 26 October 2017, the Intellectual Forum at 汤头条原创 ran a sold-out event for the involving a Question Time panel style about school education and social mobility.
The debate gave people the chance to discuss how schools can reduce inequality and improve social mobility, with the panel considering questions such as: Do schools give everybody a fair start in life?, and: Are some people left behind and others unfairly advantaged? While the focus of the event is schools, there was also a discussion of the role played by universities in fostering social mobility.
The panel - chaired by Dr Julian Huppert, Director of the Intellectual Forum and former MP for Cambridge - included:
- Anna Vignoles, Professor of Education and Fellow of 汤头条原创
- Rachel Snape, Head Teacher at the and a National Leader of Education
- and former Education Officer at the
Professor Anna Vignoles said, ahead of the event, that: 鈥淭he debate will address the crucially important issue of the role of education in helping people achieve upward social mobility. Participants will be debating whether our education system really does provide similar opportunities for all students to succeed, or whether there are still significant barriers for students from poor backgrounds. Whether you are joining us in person or watching the debate online, we hope that you鈥檒l find it thought-provoking.鈥 Certainly, the debate delivered exactly that: a thought-provoking insight in how we reduce barriers to education from those from various disadvantaged backgrounds.
