The glass floor

The concept of the ‘glass ceiling’, a largely invisible barrier which acts to prevent some people from rising above a certain level, is now in common usage (see the article on page 14). However, a report published by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission in June 2015 drew attention to the ‘glass floor’. This describes the equally invisible but very real barrier, or safety net, which serves to prevent children from wealthier middle-class families from falling down the social hierarchy. The report was based on a longitudinal study of 17,000 children born in a single week in 1970. It found that less able wealthier children were 35% more likely to become high earners than their more gifted peers from poorer families.

The report found that wealthier families helped their children to acquire desirable skills, including the ‘soft skills’ of selfconfidence and leadership. They also used their social networks to secure internships and employment. These families also provided a good homelearning environment, sought out ‘better’ schools and gave help with homework, exam preparation and careers advice. The level of the parents’ education and a child’s attendance at a private or grammar school also had a beneficial impact over and above their academic ability.