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| 'Deeply elitist UK locks out diversity at top' | 'Deeply elitist UK locks out diversity at top' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The UK is "deeply elitist" according to new analysis of the backgrounds of more than 4,000 business, political, media and public sector leaders. | The UK is "deeply elitist" according to new analysis of the backgrounds of more than 4,000 business, political, media and public sector leaders. |
| Small elites, educated at independent schools and Oxbridge, still dominate top roles, suggests the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission study. | Small elites, educated at independent schools and Oxbridge, still dominate top roles, suggests the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission study. |
| It says key institutions do not represent the public they serve. | It says key institutions do not represent the public they serve. |
| Commission chairman Alan Milburn said they had to open their doors to a broader range of talent. | Commission chairman Alan Milburn said they had to open their doors to a broader range of talent. |
| Mr Milburn told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the report serves as a "wake up call" to schools, universities and government. | |
| He said: "We want the best people in the top jobs, the concern of this is the dominance they exercise. | |
| "If there is one thing that unlocks this huge challenge for the country about the excessive dominance at the top it is the improvements in education." | |
| 'Stark' elitism | 'Stark' elitism |
| "Locking out a diversity of talents and experiences makes Britain's leading institutions less informed, less representative and ultimately less credible than they should be," warned Mr Milburn in his foreword to the report. | |
| "This risks narrowing the conduct of public life to a small few who are very familiar with each other but far less familiar with the day-to-day challenges facing ordinary people in the country. | "This risks narrowing the conduct of public life to a small few who are very familiar with each other but far less familiar with the day-to-day challenges facing ordinary people in the country. |
| "That is not a recipe for a healthy democratic society." | "That is not a recipe for a healthy democratic society." |
| The commission says its findings are based on one of the most detailed analyses of its type ever undertaken. | The commission says its findings are based on one of the most detailed analyses of its type ever undertaken. |
| It found that those who had attended fee-paying schools included: | It found that those who had attended fee-paying schools included: |
| Also privately educated were 45% of chairmen and women of public bodies, 44% of the Sunday Times Rich List, 43% of newspaper columnists and 26% of BBC executives. | Also privately educated were 45% of chairmen and women of public bodies, 44% of the Sunday Times Rich List, 43% of newspaper columnists and 26% of BBC executives. |
| In sport, 35% of the England, Scotland and Wales rugby teams and 33% of the England cricket team also went to private schools. | In sport, 35% of the England, Scotland and Wales rugby teams and 33% of the England cricket team also went to private schools. |
| In politics, half the House of Lords attended independent schools, along with 36% of the cabinet, 33% of MPs and 22% of the shadow cabinet. | In politics, half the House of Lords attended independent schools, along with 36% of the cabinet, 33% of MPs and 22% of the shadow cabinet. |
| This compares with 7% of the UK population as a whole. | This compares with 7% of the UK population as a whole. |
| Figures for top people who went to Oxford and Cambridge paint a similar picture. | Figures for top people who went to Oxford and Cambridge paint a similar picture. |
| Some 75% of senior judges, 59% of the Cabinet, 57% of permanent secretaries, 50% of diplomats, 47% of newspaper columnists, 38% of the House of Lords, 33% of the shadow cabinet and 24% of MPs hold Oxbridge degrees. | Some 75% of senior judges, 59% of the Cabinet, 57% of permanent secretaries, 50% of diplomats, 47% of newspaper columnists, 38% of the House of Lords, 33% of the shadow cabinet and 24% of MPs hold Oxbridge degrees. |
| In contrast, less than 1% of the whole population are Oxbridge graduates while 62% did not attend university, says the study. | In contrast, less than 1% of the whole population are Oxbridge graduates while 62% did not attend university, says the study. |
| The report describes the figures as "elitism so stark that it could be called social engineering". | The report describes the figures as "elitism so stark that it could be called social engineering". |
| The authors recognise that many talented people attend independent schools and top universities, with 32% of those with AAA or better in last year's A-level results attending private schools. | The authors recognise that many talented people attend independent schools and top universities, with 32% of those with AAA or better in last year's A-level results attending private schools. |
| National effort | National effort |
| However, they ask whether top jobs are about what you know or who you know and whether some talent is being locked out. | However, they ask whether top jobs are about what you know or who you know and whether some talent is being locked out. |
| The report calls for a national effort to "break open" Britain's elite, with: | The report calls for a national effort to "break open" Britain's elite, with: |
| Sir Anthony Seldon, the master of Wellington College in Berkshire, says every independent school should start an academy - something his school has overseen. | |
| He said: "We need to be more radical than [Alan Milburn] is currently proposing. | |
| "If we look more at those state schools that are doing very well, they are very heavily dominated by the middle classes. | |
| "They are the grammar schools, they are the academies and comprehensives in strongly middle class areas. | |
| "I think to be obsessed, as Alan is by private schools, is just a little bit out of date." | |
| 'Major rethink' | |
| The Sutton Trust, which campaigns for greater social mobility through education, welcomed the recommendations. | The Sutton Trust, which campaigns for greater social mobility through education, welcomed the recommendations. |
| "It is clear more needs to be done at government level to address the issue," said policy director Lee Elliot Major. | "It is clear more needs to be done at government level to address the issue," said policy director Lee Elliot Major. |
| Prof Steve West, chairman of the University Alliance group of business and technology-focused universities, urged a "major rethink of what success looks like in the 21st Century". | Prof Steve West, chairman of the University Alliance group of business and technology-focused universities, urged a "major rethink of what success looks like in the 21st Century". |
| "There is a massive breadth of routes to success and huge diversity of opportunity in the global, technology-rich graduate employment market." | "There is a massive breadth of routes to success and huge diversity of opportunity in the global, technology-rich graduate employment market." |
| A spokeswoman for Oxford University said the institution devoted "a huge amount of resource to widening access and student support" but added that diversifying intake would require wider action. | A spokeswoman for Oxford University said the institution devoted "a huge amount of resource to widening access and student support" but added that diversifying intake would require wider action. |
| "Social mobility is an issue stretching back to birth and beyond and early inequality of attainment is one of the major barriers to progression." | "Social mobility is an issue stretching back to birth and beyond and early inequality of attainment is one of the major barriers to progression." |