Lee Elliot Major

Social mobility "is a productivity policy because wasted ability is inefficiency with a human face.” Love this from Australian minister @ALeighMP It's a core argument in our book Cracking the Class Code: social mobility is about productivity & efficiency. policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/cracking…

Teachers today are not just educators — they’re counsellors, social workers, poverty alleviators & guardians of respectful values. Yet we judge them as if none of these societal challenges exist in schools. My comments made a few BBC headlines yesterday bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Observing the row over student loans in England feels like watching a car crash in slow motion. Message I hear from teachers, parents & students is that loans are no longer a good deal & rules can change after you sign up. We may alienate the very Uni entrants we want to attract.

You cannot level the education playing field without fair admissions. Schools should not be judged highly unless they are genuinely serving children from all backgrounds in their local area.

Very excited our book Cracking the Class Code has been selected for a Waterstones pre-publication promotion — 25% off. A global study of how hidden class rules shape opportunity inside top-tier firms — and why these matter for rebuilding a fairer society. waterstones.com/book/cracking-…

thanks @HFletcherWood The famous toolkit was born from a chance meeting between kindred spirits with complementary skills at the perfect time. I often wonder how different things might have been otherwise. Proud to have played a role in creating a lasting education treasure!

Rob describes how the first @EducEndowFoundn toolkit came about through the collaboration of @profstig, @Lem_Exeter & @suttontrust

The test of a great university or employer is not whether it attracts those already trained to succeed, but whether it can identify and cultivate talent wherever it exists. My @guardian op-ed: theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

The shift from FSM to family income is a huge change in England's disadvantage funding for schools. FSM was always a flawed measure. After years of stalled progress, we need a wider debate on how we define disadvantage & support all pupils equitably. schoolsweek.co.uk/pupil-premium-…

Excited to launch our new Leading Educational Equity exec course for school leaders. Timely support for inclusion, tackling disadvantage & forging parent partnerships. Builds on our equity work. 2 in-person days, @UniofExeter certificate. Sign up here: exeter.ac.uk/faculties/hass…

Great to vent about Britain’s class system on @bbc5live yesterday. Class divide hasn’t died, just evolved - as much about what we own as what we earn. Must recognise class barriers to build a fairer world. Madness that @BBCNews scheme to diversify its panellists neglects class!!

Let's stop calling young people “NEETs”. It sounds more like a disease to be rid of than a description of young people’s lives. Alan Milburn is perfect choice to tackle a national crisis: one million young people seeking education and work. @FEWeek feweek.co.uk/milburns-the-m…

While some children are still learning to walk, others are being groomed for Eton. The stark truth of the deeply one-sided global education arms race. @LSEInequalities

The Pupil Premium was a world-leading reform 15 years ago that put billions into tackling disadvantage in England’s schools. But it’s time for a major overhaul: recognising multiple barriers to learning, with accountability that empowers teachers. @csjthinktank & @EducEndowFoundn

Great to speak at today’s @AberUni Teaching Conference on our ‘win-win-win’ undergrad tutoring scheme: School pupils gain literacy & role models Students earn credits & give back Unis boost fairer life chances A scalable, sustainable model @UniversitiesUK tinyurl.com/exetertutoring

It’s time to rethink the Victorian school calendar. A shorter summer & longer autumn break could ease holiday hunger, support teachers, reduce learning loss & create a greener holiday industry. Great to explain why this reform makes sense on @BBCRadio4 bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0…

Great to be back speaking at the @EducationFest: current deficit approaches in education are failing millions of our children. Some tips on how we can move to a more equitable approach inside and outside the school gates - for all pupils. Friday 4 July, 11:45-12:30, Venue 10.

GCSE are failing the fairness test. They reward not just knowledge—but privilege. We’ve created an exam system that perpetuates inequality across generations. It’s time to rethink how we define merit and support all talents. My comments in @guardian theguardian.com/education/2025…

Delighted to see @SMFthinktank report Leave to Achieve highlight the South-West Social Mobility Commission as a blueprint for regional approaches to tackling barriers to opportunity. We need a national vision for social mobility, but local implementation. smf.co.uk/wp-content/upl…

Extending free school meals is a hugely welcome step from a government acknowledging the reality of rising child poverty in England. But without the parallel Pupil Premium support for these children, schools will always struggle to level the playing field gov.uk/government/new…