Publisher's Synopsis
Writing in a simple, accessible style, Saunders shows that movement up and down the social class ladder is widespread, and that the main influences on where people end up in life are talent and hard work, not the class they were born into. The failure of our politicians to grasp the truth about social mobility is resulting in damaging policies designed to rectify problems we don't have. Our top universities are not biased against working class applicants, for example; nor do they unfairly favour those educated at private schools. Imposition of targets and quotas is undermining what is currently a meritocratic system. The repeated false claims of politicians threaten to demotivate youngsters by convincing them the opportunities are all closed off, when in fact, for those who are bright and motivated, there is little to hold them back.