UK’s most influential people are five times more likely to have attended fee-paying school but only seven per cent of the population are privately educated, new analysis reveals
- Only seven per cent of Brits are privately educated yet fill 39 per cent of top jobs
- Independent schools educated 57 per cent of those in the House of Lords
- The Social Mobility Commission said figures raised questions over whether decision makers really can ‘relate to and represent ordinary people’
Britain’s most influential people are five times more likely to have attended a fee-paying school. Analysis from the Sutton Trust found that while only only seven per cent of the population are privately educated, they occupy 39 per cent of the top jobs.
The Social Mobility Commission, which co-authored the report, said the figures raised questions over whether decision makers really can ‘relate to and represent ordinary people’.
Students at Oxford wear ceremonial robes (stock)
Sir Peter Lampl, founder of report co-author the Sutton Trust, said: ‘Britain is an increasingly divided society. Social mobility remains low.’ The report, Elitist Britain 2019, examined high-fliers in the media, judiciary, politics, business, civil service, local government, TV, film and sport.
It reveals a ‘pipeline’ to the top jobs from fee-paying schools and Oxbridge. Independent schools educated 65 per cent of senior judges, 59 per cent of civil service permanent secretaries and 57 per cent of those in the House of Lords. Across 37 categories in nine broad areas, only among men and women’s footballers were the privately educated under-represented.
Main entrance of the King’s College which is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge