Education has long been seen as a great leveller, and access to it has been a key struggle for many of history’s most important social movements. But is access to education enough, or is there more work to be done to ensure that all students can benefit from what education has to offer?
What is social mobility?
Education was always very important to my family growing up. My paternal grandparents emigrated to the UK from Guyana in the 1950s and worked in the public sector for British Telecom and the NHS, respectively. All of their children also went on to work in the public sector, again in the NHS and BT and also in education. All of this was underpinned by my grandparents’ insistence that a good education was a means to succeed in this country despite all the challenges of being an immigrant at the time. This was passed down to their children and then to my generation, in which all three of us grandchildren attended and graduated from university.
This story is a typical example of ‘social mobility’, one which has been repeated many times, particularly in the decades immediately following World War II. Social mobility is typically seen as children going on to be more affluent than their parents, with better access to jobs, higher incomes and secure housing.
There is, however, a broader dimension to social mobility beyond the economic. Social mobility can be gained through access to cultural capital like exposure to art, theatre and other cultural elements, social capital that is developed through networks and soft skills like the ability to navigate the workplace and other institutions. Ultimately, then, social mobility can be seen as any action that improves or expands a person’s life chances.
“School is a place where many children are first exposed to what may become lifelong passions that enrich their development and expose them to new people, places and opportunities.”
Education and social mobility
So what role does education play in social mobility? The most basic principle of education may be seen as teaching children the knowledge and skills that they need to pass exams and ultimately get a good job. But education also exposes children to a plethora of social and cultural opportunities: sports teams, drama clubs, music lessons, cooking, crafting, and so much more. School is a place where many children are first exposed to what may become lifelong passions that enrich their development and expose them to new people, places and opportunities.
Education is an essential means of achieving social mobility in its broadest sense, yet it is a sector that is increasingly under threat. Recruitment and retention of teachers, falling roll numbers and funding pressures are all issues that are at the forefront of school leaders’ minds. In this environment, it is more important than ever for schools and MATs, colleges and universities to maintain effective leadership and high standards of governance. These allow educational institutions to operate to the greatest benefit of both staff and students and contribute to the social mobility of both.
Creating an impact on social mobility
The challenges faced by the education sector are not singular. Whilst there is no one solution to overcome them, we believe that cohesive, committed and values-led leadership at the executive and non-executive levels can play a significant role in mitigating them – and that is what we strive to achieve.
At Peridot, we are passionate about transforming leadership and inspiring change. We are dedicated to working with organisations with a social purpose to help them recruit leaders who can maximise their impact and drive social mobility. If you would like to learn more about how we can support you in achieving effective leadership, please get in touch!
