Intergerational mobility – or lack of it. I am speaking on a panel at the end of a day’s conference for specialists, academics and the like about the fact that social mobility is less now than 30 years ago. If you’re born poor you will die poor – is the basic message.

For me the big issue is the widening equality gap and how bad that is for everyone. Countries with less of a gap between rich and poor do better, are happier and so on. Conclusions (mine) that we are still relatively class ridden society who look down their noses at vocational education (not me!) and we would do well to take a leaf out of the Netherland’s school structures. And yes – 0 – 5 years is crucial – but so are second chances. Damn the government for taking away funding for a second degree later in life. That removed so many second chances – and hey ho – hits women (often single mothers) returning to work and advancing themselves.