A child’s chances of success in life still depend on family income, according to new research.

A social mobility commission set up by Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said increased investment in education had disproportionately benefited the middle class.

The commission found that only 35.5 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals obtained five higher grade GCSEs, compared to 62.9 per cent of those not eligible.

The proportion of poorer children going on to graduate from university has risen by only 3 per cent compared to 26 per cent among those growing up in wealthier families.

The commission was chaired by Martin Narey, chief executive of the children’s charity Barnardo’s, who said:
“Despite progress in reducing child poverty and heavy investment in education, a child’s chances of success in Britain today are still largely dependent on the background and earnings of its parents.”

“Education has, quite properly, been seen as the great leveller but children from poor and disadvantaged backgrounds all too often end up in the worst schools and achieve the worst results.”

The commission said more resources must be targeted at schools with the most disadvantaged children and there should be better incentives for teachers to work in the most difficult schools.

Mr Clegg said: “This expert analysis shatters the idea that Britain in 2009 is a free and fair society.

“Martin Narey and his colleagues deserve enormous credit for a report that cannot be ignored by anyone who wants a fairer Britain.

“It is an outrage and a tragedy that two children born at the same time in the same hospital should have wildly different life chances based simply on the income of their parents.”