of 5-year-olds from the lowest-income backgrounds reached expected levels of development in national tests
of 11-year-olds from the lowest-income backgrounds left primary school with basic reading, writing and maths
of 16-year-olds from the lowest-income backgrounds left secondary school with foundational English and maths qualifications
of 19-year-olds from the lowest-income backgrounds had attained a Level 3 qualification (A-levels or equivalent)
The South-West Social Mobility Commission is a trailblazing regional initiative aiming to catalyse action to improve opportunity for children and young people from under-resourced backgrounds across Cornwall, Devon and Somerset. We develop practical solutions in the South West that can improve opportunity nationally.
Beyond the South West peninsula’s beautiful countryside and coastlines, second homes, sunseekers and retirees, lies a hidden challenge.
Read more about the region’s challenges in our 2022 report Social Mobility in the South West and see the most recent social mobility data in our latest Annual Report, Place Matters (2026).
Children and young people from under-resourced backgrounds in the South-West peninsula simply aren’t getting a fair chance. This needs to change. We aim to drive this change.
Watch a 12-minute TED talk by Professor Lee Elliot Major talking about what we can do to level the playing field of life
The South-West Social Mobility Commission is generously supported by:
We rely entirely on external funding. To support our work, please get in touch here.
