Commission Meeting Minutes 21 April 2021
Updated 9 November 2021
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Attendees
Commissioners
Sandra Wallace (Interim Co-chair)
Steven Cooper (Interim Co-chair)
Saeed Atcha
Alistair Da Costa
Pippa Dunn
Sam Friedman
Harvey Matthewson
Jessica Oghenegweke
Jody Walker
Liz Williams
Sammy Wright
Apologies
Farrah Storr
Introductions
1.1 The Co-chairs began with a welcome and apologies.
1.2 The Co-chairs highlighted some of the recent activities undertaken by Commissioners:
- particularly the outstanding work Sam Friedman carried out on the progression in the Navigating the labyrinth report - the report will be published in May
- Sammy’s continued influence on education catch-up and 2021 exams and engagement with Minister Nick Gibb on our recommendation for a student premium for disadvantaged 16 to 19-year olds
- Alastair and Jess’s productive engagement with Minister Gillian Keegan on socio-economic disparities and post-16 education
2. Reflections on the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities (CRED) report
2.1 Secretariat led a discussion on the CRED report. Commissioners considered what our approach to the report should be and debated a series of options. Following discussion, Commissioners agreed that we should produce a statement and reactive lines which we would issue before publication of the State of the Nation report.
Action: Secretariat to produce a draft statement and reactive lines
3. State of the Nation update and discussion
3.1 Commissioners received a presentation from Secretariat on the State of the Nation report covering where we are; what is happening; what the statistics are showing and the key messages coming out of the four nations essays.
3.2 Following discussion, Commissioners were invited to attend pre-arranged deep dive sessions to delve further into the issues arising and to discuss our key messages. Secretariat would send Commissioners the dates of deep dive sessions.
Action: Secretariat to send Commissioners the dates of deep dive sessions.
4. Operational and workplan update
4.1 Secretariat updated Commissioners on its workplan over the coming months.
5. 30 years’ project
5.1 This paper was circulated to gather Commissioners views rather than for discussion in the meeting. The paper set out a long-term vision towards a socially mobile society and proposals for a revised measurement framework. The paper sought Commissioners response to a number of questions.
5.2 The Co-chairs asked Secretariat to lay the questions onto a template and send to Commissioners for their response.
Action: Secretariat to send Commissioners a template outlining the questions for their response by 10 May.