Area and school play part in future

WHERE young people live, and the school they attended, have an impact on how well they do in life, according to a poll of the public.

It also suggests many people believe the contacts and networks a youngster has access to, the quality of their school and their own ambition plays a part in deciding whether they will be successful.

Teach First, the charity which commissioned the survey, said more must be done by schools, government, businesses and communities to ensure that “opportunities are available for all”.

The poll, which questioned around 2,000 British adults, found that the vast majority — 93% — believe that a young person’s ambition to succeed has an impact on their success in life, either professionally or personally, while 92% agreed the quality of teaching they receive at school has an effect.

About eight in 10 (79%) said the area in which a youngster lives has an impact on how well they do, while 88% said that contacts and networks make a difference, and nearly three-quarters (72%) believed whether they went to a state or private school has an effect.

Two-thirds (66%) thought that how much a youngster’s parents earn made a difference to their chances in life.

The survey also found that among the young people questioned (18 to 24-year-olds) ambition to succeed was seen as a more important factor than any of the other areas.

About half of all adults polled (51%) thought the rates of young people not in school, work or training has a negative impact on the British economy, with 44% saying it has a negative effect on social mobility — ensuring that everyone gets a chance to get on in life.

Figures show around one in eight 18 to 24-year-olds were considered “NEET” — not in education, employment or training — in the second quarter (April-June). The numbers have fallen compared with the same point last year.

Nine in 10 (90%) said schools should have an influence in ensuring disadvantaged young people have the same chance of succeeding in life as their richer classmates, while a similar proportion (89%) thought parents should have an influence.

In addition, 84% thought businesses have a role to play, 80% believed the government should have an influence and the same proportion thought poorer youngsters themselves should play a part.

Russell Hobby, chief executive of Teach First, said: “No child’s dreams should be written off because of their background.”

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