Where you were educated from age 11 has bearing on career success

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Over half of today's leading figures across five different sectors were educated at independent school, even though these account for just 7 per cent of the school-age population.

The Sutton Trust news is here - it makes interesting reading

Sadly true, Theodaores mummy, but I am with Mincepieder here. I feel I have to work hard to instill my dc with confidence and a belief that they can do anything they want with their lives. But I am determined to do it and have worked hard so far . Dd goes to a very good local school with a variety of influences. I know it would be different at private school.
I think the option for me would be to try for scholarships/assissted places as of course I want the best for my dc.

I think when you feel let down by your own education there is a gritty determination to not let this happen to your own dc.

Connections? Not sure. I work in the public sector and may sound terribly naive but appointments are made on merit, by and large.

Maybe if my education had been different I'd be in a different career but after 10 years plus of working I'm not entirely sure I can blame my education any more for anything. I've worked hard, developed skills and completed various post-grad qualifications including a masters degree so where I am now is nothing to do with my schooling. I am where I am because of my own hard work and determination.

My parents did not go to university but have been successful community leaders so have excelled despite their lack of formal qualifications. Schooling I guess can be a hindrance but a lot depends personality, too.

What I will do for my son is ensure that we are aware of the full range of options for him. I automatically went to the local school because that's what people did but I'll choose the right one for him and his personality.

Expectations are v important in my opinion.

I was taught in a mixed ability class for english and there were people in the class who could barely read (at 15) with people who went on to get As at A level. Naturally the class wasn't exactly challenging and I spent a lot of time doing nothing in class. I don't agree at all with mixed ability classes and I would try to avoid this for my son.

llaregubb I think you're right that much of it is down to personality. My dh went to a truly awful all boys comprehensive in Birmingham and loved it. I honestly think he would have done well wherever he went. He just works so hard and loves what he does.

When I wen to university I met a lot of public school boys. They were exceptionally immature and many of them failed the first year. Their arrogance was truely staggering.

I think this is fairly common at the Russel Group of universities.

Theodores mummy- it's Bootham- a Quaker school. I think it probably is different from many independent schools , as there's a really big emphasis on social conscience and respect for each other which really seems to permeate the whole school.
There's less flashiness I would say. And there,s a real feeling of the children having every oportunity not to follow the status quo- they really are encouraged to go their own way and take alot of responsibility- whch I don't think all private schools do.

Reallytired, ditto my experience at university. The privately educated ones in my chemistry group were the ones who had trouble motivating themselves to study. As for state schools not inspiring confidence and aspirations in its students, some do some don't. You can't condemn a whole system for the failings of a few.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Much of a child's achievement will depend on the importance attached to education in its home environment. As the daughter of immigrants and an ethnic, my teachers at my comp had no expectations for black pupils. I did not allow their negativity to stop me from studying or aiming high and that is why I ended up with a PhD in chemistry. Similarly, many children of immigrants who usually attend comps in poor socio-economic areas end up doing well - their parents instil in them a strong work ethic, aspirations and self-belief.

When everything is handed to you on a plate, you take it for granted and have an expectation that it will always be like that, especially when you know that Daddy's connections will get you into certain positions. That is why surveys like this are pointless imo because many of the people in these high offices are there by virtue of patronage rather than talent.

Somebody like Alan Sugar will always be admired unlike some privately educated person who used its school tie connections to get to where they are imo.

If you truly believe that, then you have nothing to fear from private education. Let us squander our money as we see fit.

You can spend your money as you like. I just wanted to point out that being state educated does not preclude having aspirations, opportunity or a successful career, especially in the 21st centuary.

Thanks plumandolive.

We are close to Sibford Quaker School.

I had a prospectus from them and it looked nice.

I am a little suspicious about this whole success/aspirations thing anyway, as it often seems based on the idea that earning lots of money is the sign of success. Speaking for myself, I am not earning lots of money, but I am doing the job I always dreamt of, it is as interesting and intellectually stimulating as I thought it would be- so am I a failure?

Also not sure it is sure it is my job to have aspirations for my children- isn't that their job? My job is to give them a chance to learn lots and understand lots and be excited by lots of different things, not to choose what they are to define as success in life. My dd wants to be a writer, which is unlikely to make her rich, but may just be what she is meant to do. My ds wants to be a preschool teacher, and I think he'd make a great one; should I work on raising his aspirations?

I think that being a pre school teacher is a pretty high aspiration. Many pre school teachers have degrees these days. Children really benefit from a high quality nursery.

I want my son to grow up, happy, hard working and law abiding. We need all kinds of people in our society.

My job is badly paid, but it makes a difference to the children I work with. Society needs cleaners, teachers, plummers as well as the Alan Sugars of this world.

Being happy is more important than earing money.

Both dh and I ended up with first class degrees. He went to a private school, me a state school. He became a phyiscist (he had a PhD too) I went into clinical psycholgy. Earned about the same.
Now neither of us works cos we are carers for dd.
I reckon his parents could have saved that money.....

How true. Walked away from a very well paid job and have never been happier! (state educated though so getting back to my roots?)

I view aspirations as doing something that will make you happy and fulfilled. That does not mean earning a lot of money. It means having the opportunity to chase after your dreams and to fulfill your potential.

That is another problem with this report. It has a very narrow minded and shallow view of the definition of success. My DB is working in a youth team to help troubled young people. He absolutely loves it and would not leave it for a more highly paid job because of the satisfaction and sense of achievement that he gets everyday working with these young people.

Personally, I do not think that money = success or even happiness (but how many of us would LOVE to win the lottery ??)

The thing that I find so very sad is when people moan about their jobs/lives, but accept it and say that 'life is not fair' or 'work is not meant to be enjoyable'.

Bollocks. What a waste of a life.

I know a lady who is a cleaner. She is very happy with what she does. She is clever and a fun, lovely person to be around. Cleaning jobs suit her for many reasons and she does a useful job.

So I believe that we can all fulfill our aspirations and still have cleaners and binmen (who I have soooooo much respect for, 'cause I would not want to do it)

I would swap all the money in the world for dd not to have cerebral palsy. A lottery win might make life easier in terms of equipment and a decent house but it would never make her better.

I'm so sorry about your daughter, needmorecoffee. It must seem so unfair--and yes, it would be beyond all riches if something could be done.

Sorry needmorecoffee if I offended.

"Now neither of us works cos we are carers for dd.
I reckon his parents could have saved that money..... "

Having a good education makes it easier to fight for a child with cerebral palsy. Sadly you have to be articulate to get the best out of the NHS.

Well educated parents are often better at being advocates for their children and getting therphies/ treatments for their children. If you cannot read then you do not have access to the internet/ newpapers/ books. If you cannot express yourself then it is harder to get what you need for your family.

I think that all children benefit from having parents with a good education. If you educate a carer then you educate a family.

bloody hell
privileged people have better life chances
and money and class makes a difference to your chances of success in life
hold the front page

The Sutton trust report did not say anything about earnings. Being a Judge is not particularly well paid relative to other careers, for example.

I think people without any degree at all are far more likely to become entrepreneurs that those with a degree; and I think the better the degree/more prestigious the university the less likely the graduate will become an entrepreneur. So although confidence probably does breed competence I think it is also true that having nothing to lose breeds more adventurous and entrepreneurial thinking.

I think the difference between aspirations, opportunity and fulfillment can get confused. What we would hope is that a school can make opportunities available for a child so they can feel fulfilled- rather than fitting the aspirations of the school or parent - which so often is to do with academic achievement rather than what the child is good at.
My eldest has fantastic social skills and quite a well developped social conscience for her age- eg she wrote letters for amnesty from 10 and campaigns for animal rights stuff- but she's not academic atall- I don't think schools recognise qualities outside the mainstream ability range- they don't have time or energy most of the time.