Rob: Hello, I'm Rob, and Yvonne has joined me for today's 6 Minute English. Hello,
Yvonne!
Yvonne: Hello, Rob.
Rob: Today, we're talking about social mobility in the UK and a plan by the
government to try and improve it.
Yvonne: Social mobility is a big issue, and something that is very important.
Rob: Yes, and the coalition government in the UK is hoping its new strategy will
help make things better for everyone. Now, today I wanted to ask you,
according to government statistics what percentage of the UK population has
attended an independent or private school? Is it:
a) 7%
b) 12% or
c) 24%
Yvonne: I’m going to say 24%.
Rob: OK! Interesting. Well, as usual, I'll give you the answer at the end of today's "6
Minute English". So let's talk about social mobility. Would you like to explain
what this term really means, Yvonne?
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Yvonne: Sure. Social mobility describes the extent an individual's status can change in
terms of their position in a social hierarchy.
Rob: A social hierarchy. So this is about the class system. But how can we tell which
class a person belongs to?
Yvonne: Well, this is often defined by a person's material wealth, their occupation and
their education. So this is what the government's new strategy is hoping to
improve for everyone.
Rob: Yes, but it particularly aims to give more opportunities to poorer people from
the lower class, some of which live in poverty. Let's hear from the
government’s social mobility tsar, Alan Milburn. He spoke to the BBC about
the aim of improving social mobility.
Insert 1: Alan Milburn
What social mobility is in the end is about breaking the link between a person's class or
income being dependent on the class or income of their parents, and unfortunately our
country tends to have a stronger correlation between parental income and class, and
children's income and class, than comparable countries.
Rob: So Alan Milburn says in the UK there is a strong correlation – or link –
between the income and class of parents and the income and class of their
children.
Yvonne: Oh, so he’s suggesting that people who are poorer and in a lower class now are
in the same situation as their parents were?
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Rob: Mm, that's right and this is worse than in other similar countries. That's why he
says we need to break this link.
Yvonne: To break the link. But Rob, how is the government hoping to do that?
Rob: Well, shall we hear from David Willetts? He’s the Universities and Science minister.
He can explain the government's new approach.
Insert 2: David Willetts
You've got a clear statement of how at each stage these kind of hinges, these moments in
peoples lives when they make crucial transitions - we want those transitions to be better
for everyone. We want for everyone to see much more clearly what their opportunities
are and how they can seize them.
Yvonne: So David Willetts is talking about improving the crucial transitions in
people's lives. What are those Rob?
Rob: Well, these crucial transitions are the important points in our lives where we
can make a decision that could have consequences later on. Things like which
school we go to, which university we choose, or which career we take.
Yvonne: Ah, these are important choices or key decisions. So the government wants to
make it easier for people to know what their opportunities are and how they
can access them.
Rob: Or what David Willetts said was, "how they can seize them" – or get them. The
ultimate vision for this strategy is to create a fairer society. But, of course, this
government plan is just a strategy - it's not a policy and there's no extra money.
Yvonne: Hmm. Well, maybe we should hear from Frances Cairncross who's an
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economist. She thinks it's not the government's responsibility to improve
social mobility.
Insert 3: Frances Cairncross
I approve of anything that increases the chances for young people of getting ahead, but a
lot of the things that improve those chances happen in the family, they don't happen at a
government level. They happen if you have parents who talk to you, if you have parents
who care whether you finish your homework. That's part of social mobility and it’s an
extremely important part.
Yvonne: That's Frances Cairncross, who says she approves of any initiative - or idea -
that helps young people, but many things that improve the chances of them
getting ahead come from home.
Rob: Yes. She believes that much of the responsibility comes from the parents. If
they talk to their children, take an interest in their homework, it can really help
them get ahead in life.
Yvonne: Mm. Well, maybe she has a point there, Rob! Now, Rob, it's time you gave me
the answer to your question.
Rob Ah yes. I asked you, according to government statistics, what percentage of the
UK population has attended an independent or private school? Was it 7%, 12%
or 24%?
Yvonne: And I said 24%, but I think I’m terribly wrong.
Rob: Ah, you can’t change your mind now! I’m afraid you are wrong. The answer
is actually just 7%. OK, Yvonne, please could you remind us of some of the
words that we used in today's programme.
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Yvonne: social mobility
a strategy
social hierarchy
material wealth
opportunities
a correlation between
crucial transitions
consequences
to seize
responsibility
Rob: Thanks so much, Yvonne.
Yvonne: You’re welcome. And that's all for today, but do join us again for more "6
Minute English" soon.
Both: Goodbye!
