Attainment of five or more GCSE grades A* to C: by parental NS-SEC, 2002, England & Wales
Parental and family circumstances impact upon GCSE attainment. In 2002, 77 per cent of children in year 11 in England and Wales with parents in higher professional occupations gained five or more A* to C grade GCSEs. This was more than double the proportion for children with parents in routine occupations (32 per cent).
The gap in GCSE attainment levels by parental socio-economic group increased in the 1990s. In 1992, 60 per cent of children with parents in managerial or professional occupations attained five or more GCSEs grade A* to C. This was 44 percentage points more than the proportion for children with parents in unskilled manual occupations. In 1998 this gap rose to 49 percentage points. By 2002 the gap between children with parents in higher professional occupations (broadly equivalent to managerial/professional occupations) and those with parents in routine occupations (broadly equivalent to unskilled manual occupations) had fallen back to 45 percentage points.
Like attainment at school, participation in further or higher education is strongly influenced by people's social and economic background. In 2002, 87 per cent of 16 year olds with parents in higher professional occupations were in full-time education. This compares with 60 per cent of those with parents in routine occupations, and 58 per cent with parents in lower supervisory occupations. However, once people's prior attainment is taken into account the impact of social background decreases significantly.
Employment rates and gross weekly earnings for full-time employees of working age: by highest qualification, spring 2003, UK
There is a clear relationship between higher qualifications and higher earnings, and the earnings premium for possessing a degree is particularly high. The average gross weekly income of full-time employees in the UK with a degree was £632 in spring 2003. This was more than double the weekly income of £298 for those with no qualifications.
The likelihood of being employed is also higher for those with higher qualifications. In spring 2003, 88 per cent of working age adults with a degree were in full-time employment compared with 50 per cent of those with no qualifications. Education is also key in explaining the inequality gaps between advantaged and disadvantaged groups in terms of health, living standards and social participation.
Sources: Youth Cohort Study, Department for Education and Skills Labour Force Survey, Office for National Statistics
Notes: Parental NS-SEC represents the household NS-SEC. This was developed by assigning the NS-SEC of whichever parent had the highest order NS-SEC using the given order of categories, when both were provided and a discrepancy arose.
Working-age adults are males aged 16 to 64 and females aged 16 to 59.
The income and employment rate data include only full-time employees based upon respondents' self assessment. Respondents with hourly pay greater than £100 or those who did not report an hourly wage are excluded. Excludes those who did not know their highest qualification level.
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