Transparency data

Commission Meeting Minutes 24 February 2021

Updated 9 November 2021

Attendees

Commissioners

Sandra Wallace (Interim Co-chair)
Steven Cooper (Interim Co-chair)
Saeed Atcha
Alastair DaCosta
Pippa Dunn
Sam Friedman
Harvey Matthewson
Jessica Oghenegweke
Farrah Storr
Jody Walker
Liz Williams
Sammy Wright

Members of Secretariat

Professor Anthony Heath

External guests

Professor Yaojun Li
Professor Anthony Heath

1. Introductions

1.1 The Co-chairs began with a welcome and an overview of the agenda.

1.2 The Co-chairs highlighted some of the recent Commissioner engagement activities:

• Sammy held several meetings on education catch-up, including an initial meeting with Kevan Collin, the DfE education recovery Commissioner. The Commission is pushing for an introduction of a pupil premium for disadvantaged students aged 16 to 19 which was a recommendation from its 2018 to 2019 State of the Nation report

• Jess participated in several engagements during National Apprenticeships Week and gave a keynote address on early years education in England to a Westminster conference. A meeting with Minister Liz Truss was scheduled to take place on 3 March

2. 30 years’ project

2.1 Commissioners received a presentation from Professor Anthony Heath and Professor Yaojun Li attended as an observer, on the 30 years project. The project has two aims– 1. set the long-term vision for change to achieve a socially mobile society and 2. a measurement framework to track progress towards this aim.

2.2 Professor Anthony Heath outlined the key features of the proposed measurement framework and sought Commissioners views.

2.3 There was much discussion around how social mobility could be measured and how progress could be tracked over time by short, medium or longer term measures. Along with what other mechanisms could be used to move the dial on social mobility.

Decision and action: Secretariat to work further on proposals for what the measurement framework could capture and how it could operate to track social mobility progress and drivers

2.4 Commissioners stated that they wanted a clear vision of the outcomes that they are working towards within which the measurement framework would operate. Professor Anthony Heath would work with Commissioners to outline that vision and the criteria for success or failure and produce a draft vision.

Action: Professor Anthony Heath to start drafting the vision, to get agreement from Commissioners on vision and final measurement framework at next Board meeting.

2.5. Commissioners thanked Professor Anthony Heath for his excellent presentation. Professor Anthony Heath and Professor Yaojun Li left the meeting.

3. State of the Nation update

3.1 Secretariat updated the Commissioners on progress with the State of the Nation report. This year’s report will bring together four essays focussing on each UK nation and experts from each of the four nations have been commissioned to produce essays. Peer review panels have been set up in each devolved nation to quality assure the draft essays. Secretariat would lead on pulling the narrative together to ensure that the report was cohesive.

3.2 Publication of the report has been delayed till the summer. Both DfE and Cabinet Office have been informed. Secretariat will keep Commissioners updated at key points as the report develops.

4. Update on upcoming reports

4.1 Secretariat updated the meeting on the top level headlines from three reports that were due to be published in the coming weeks. These were; the social mobility barometer; course selection in FE and apprenticeships and behavioural insights in careers.

4.2 Commissioners were informed of the completion of the Navigating the labyrinth report.

Action: Secretariat to schedule a slot with Commissioners to discuss the Navigating the labyrinth report.