At the chalkface
News
Social immobility
THE NEW seventh years stand Nothing’s shifted. It’s worse than
in line in the dappled September the fifties. New Labour did zilch.
sun, all shining and scrubbed in But wait a minute. What are
bright new uniforms under the these top jobs?
big chestnut tree. With cherubic Bankers. Finance directors.
cheeks and twinkling eyes and Masters of the universe. Ah.
nervous laughter and rucksacks And Lords. Lords? Is that a job?
plump with buns and pens and Dear me. My pupils? Arise Lord
magic markers. What a poignant Crumlin of Ladbroke Grove? And
sight! First day at Big School. judges. Eh? Arise Judge Sidney
A fresh break. A clean slate. An Lunk! One is not easily persuaded
unforgettable day. I still that these professions are
remember mine at the presently exempla of
old grammar school. human potential. Nor am
The flannel shorts, I sure that I want these
the itching socks, the little cherubs to join the
gagging tie, the stolen criminal classes. What’s
Tizer, the head down wrong with “aspiring” to
the toilet, being bashed be bakers, gardeners, train
up in the bike sheds. Ah drivers, plumbers, nurses
happy days! It’s kinder – or even teachers? Why
now, thank goodness. are these not “top jobs”?
Look at them! It’s called snobbery. It still Driving force: Mark Jefferson, pictured hard at work, received his award from Matt Dawson, Lilia Kopylova from Strictly
All that hope and blooms like a tumour. I resist Come Dancing, and schools minister, Iain Wright (inset, left to right)
wonder! We had better mad rants about obscene
not betray it. All that inequalities and rigged games
promise and potential. Will and betrayed ideals. Mr Milburn
it be fulfilled? should follow some of these tots Young mechanic scoops top award
Well, no. No chance. Not home and he’d see deprivations
according to Alan Milburn’s so savage that all hope dies and
recent Unleashing Aspiration aspiration is severely leashed.
Report – one of the lowlights So, shall we just give up?
by Emma Lee-Potter
Service’s annual Apprenticeship Matt Dawson, a huge advocate of “Although daunting at first, hav-
Awards, which took place during apprenticeships, presented Mark ing that sense of responsibility has
of the summer. It deals in ugly Stream them? Hothouse them? the summer break. with the award. greatly increased my confidence in
truths – and, as ever, the bleedin’ Coddle the best and leave the A talented young car mechanic has He was joined in the final by The former England interna- myself. The biggest lesson I have
obvious. Social mobility? Forget rest? Of course not. Never. Just been named as the 2009 Young Rebekah High from Gateshead tional said: “I believe apprentice- learned is that I am capable of
it. We change nothing. Public give them a kinder time. Work Apprentice of the Year. College in Newcastle, who did a ships are tremendously important achieving almost anything that I set
schools rule. Wealth rules. more on their sense of wonder Mark Jefferson, a 16-year-old young apprenticeship in sports man- to Britain’s future. They unlock tal- my mind to. It just shows what can
Poverty traps. Class is fate. and less on their sense of failure. pupil at Uppingham Community agement, leadership and coaching, ent and provide a viable alternative happen when you put a lot of work
Rain falls downward. Birth is Stop controlling them with College in Rutland, Leicestershire, and Laura Bannister from Kingshurst route for individuals to pursue a into something you enjoy doing.”
destiny. Fast-forward five years daft targets. With such tawdry leapt at the chance to do a young Academy in Birmingham, who career and gain personal and profes- The young apprenticeship pro-
and their fate will be fixed. “Top aspirations. As if. I watch them apprenticeship in vehicle mainte- completed a young apprenticeship sional satisfaction.” gramme gives 14 to 16-year-olds the
jobs, top universities” are still disappear in the late summer sun. nance and repair at Rockingham in hairdressing. On hearing that he had won, chance to experience work-based
the preserve of the privately Off they go, scrubbed and shining, Cars, a Northamptonshire motor Mark, described by his teachers Mark paid tribute to the skills and learning while they are still at school.
educated. Pampered dimwits with down the torrent of their fates. dealership. as “an absolute star”, was declared work experience he had gained dur- The programme started in 2004 and
“easy manners” and “soft skills” The skills he learned and the the winner at a glittering awards ing the course of his training. this month (September) around
will always trump my poorer, • Ian Whitwham is a former contribution he made to the busi- ceremony held at Old Billingsgate, “Being treated as an adult by 9,000 places will be available.
rougher and often brighter pupils. secondary school teacher ness won him a place in the final London. my colleagues has shown me what For more information, visit
of the National Apprenticeship Rugby World Cup winner working life is all about,” he said. www.apprenticeships.org.uk
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20 SecEd • September 3 2009
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