The Unlocking Talent, Fulfilling Potential plan published today displays a recognition from the Department for Education that a comprehensive strategy is needed to tackle the UK’s social mobility crisis. We particularly welcome the Education Secretary’s call to create ‘the widest coalition possible’. We know that the problem of educational inequality is too complex for one institution or organisation to solve alone – and that is exactly why the Fair Education Alliance exists. Combining the talents and efforts of educationalists, charities and businesses provides a strong collective voice that drives the changes needed to improve young people’s lives.
The Fair Education Alliance has campaigned around five Fair Education Impact Goals: early years, schools, wellbeing, careers and post-16 – all areas where the gap between the most disadvantaged young people and their wealthier peers is damagingly wide. It is welcome to see the Government adopt four of these five Fair Education Impact Goals as their key Life Stage Ambitions but while these ambitions are important, the Government must ensure that the development of social and emotional competencies is also a priority - failing to make it such will result in us not achieving the Government’s four ambitions.
We look forward to working collaboratively with the Government to deliver their strategy.