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<p>We welcome the publication of the Social Mobility Commission’s (SMC) important
report and the work that Dame Martina Milburn and her commissioners are doing to promote
social mobility across the United Kingdom.</p><p>We give careful consideration to
the work of the SMC. However, in keeping with other SMC reports, we do not plan to
publish a formal government response.</p><p>Professions like law, politics and journalism
have been dominated by independently schooled people. By making sure that our state
schools offer a comparable education to private schools, we will drive down these
inequalities.</p><p>The gap between state funded schools and independent schools has
never been smaller. 85% of state funded schools are now rated good or outstanding,
compared to 66 % in 2010. Academies across the country, like Brampton Manor in East
London, are rivalling the results of prestigious private schools.</p><p>A range of
reforms focusing on strengthening state education has driven this. Phonics is helping
early literacy; more pupils leave primary school meeting the expected standards in
maths and English and our reformed GCSEs make sure 16-year-olds have the knowledge
parents expect.</p>
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