The annual Richard Pate Lecture aims to stimulate debate in issues which are important to the Pate’s community; issues reflecting our illustrious history and helping us sharpen our vision for the next 450 years.

It was our pleasure to welcome Sir Peter, who is himself an Old Patesian, as well as a pioneering advocate of social mobility in education in the United Kingdom.

Sir Peter’s talk, ‘Making Social Mobility Work’ was a fascinating insight into this topic, and Dr Richardson’s response which followed explored Pate’s Grammar School’s Vision: Promoting Educational Opportunities for Students in our Community.

Year 12 student Jedidiah, who joined Pate’s Sixth Form this term, gives his response to the Lecture:

“I am extremely grateful and honoured to have been a part of the Richard Pate Lecture. As part of this I got to listen to the Philanthropist Sir Peter Lampl’s talk on ‘Making Social Mobility Work’. Admittedly, I had not before the lecture given the topic much thought and consideration and wrongfully so.

Sir Peter’s lecture was intriguing and provocative. Sharing his personal stories, including the impact of his time in the United States, he discussed how the educational opportunities he had been provided with growing up as a student of Cheltenham Grammar School (now Pate’s Grammar School) are no longer available; British education has transitioned to fee paying schools denying some people excellent quality education on a means basis.

The change Sir Peter witnessed, brought about his desire for change in the education system here in England. He explored how the gaps in education quality accounted for the upward social mobility of those on the lower end of the income scale and comparatively, how high educational investment and high-quality teaching allow those in a stronger financial position to benefit, having the necessary resources. Sir Peter said this should not be the case. And I agree.

What was even more fascinating was hearing about Sir Peter’s fantastic work to break the link between educational opportunities and family income. His work with the Sutton Trust aimed at tackling the decline in social mobility and to turn it around for the better, not just by creating programmes that perhaps provide more educational opportunities for students that would otherwise not have been able to afford it, but equally as important, through research (which I believe to be a powerful tool) and also through policy influence which he reiterated over the course of the lecture.  

I realised that when one thinks of social mobility, it is easy to imagine philanthropists like Sir Peter himself, or for our attention to be drawn to the policy makers, but what was particularly striking was his keen focus on research and using that as the foundation of his work in this way. The Education Endowment Foundation is an important contributor to this as it aims too ‘improve learning through better use of evidence.’

I have since then been encouraged to dive deeper into the topic and it has been an interesting journey. A huge part of which has involved me reading the Sutton Trust’s published reports, including ‘Life Lessons 2024’, ‘Fair Opportunity for All’ and ‘Social Mobility and Opportunity’ to name a few. They have been such enlightening reads and have played a critical part in developing my understand of what social mobility really means and, as one not from a wealthy background by any definition, I have a better understanding of its implications on myself and the part I play in breaking this link.

I was indeed hungry for more, but unfortunately the lecture at some point had to come to an end. It has however left me filled with burning questions concerning how I can work in the now and the future to promote increasing social mobility amongst the lower and middle income families, and how we can all work together to break this link between educational opportunity and family income by ensuring that every learner has access to the opportunities they need to allow them to develop and be high achievers despite their social and financial backgrounds.

Following on from Sir Peter’s lecture was a talk from our very own Headteacher, Dr Richardson. In the same light, Dr Richardson spoke about the many ways Pate’s Grammar School is working towards promoting educational opportunities for the students in our community, considering how the SATs played a part in this as well as other many factors; again, referring to the use of data collected.

It is as clear as day to me that Pate’s Grammar School’s vision concerning social mobility will drive us to remarkable success over the years to come. This is already evident within the school through the Shaping Futures programme which I was opportune to be a part of. I believe, as a community, it is vital that we ensure that social mobility is at the heart of what we do. Ensuring that every child is allowed the opportunity to display and develop their individual and peculiar academic brilliance as much as possible. Only by encouraging this brilliance and providing excellent quality education and a conducive learning environment to all can we then look forward to the future of a community where the link between educational opportunity and family income is no more.

I would like to thank Sir Peter Lampl for this wonderful and truly insightful talk and Dr Richardson for the astonishing and promising vision you have set out for the school. A massive thank you also to everyone who made that day possible and especially my fellow students who, by sharing their idiosyncratic opinions, allowed me to gain a broader perspective on the issue.”