Probus members with children and/or grandchildren will be interested in a recent Government-funded report by the Social Mobility Commission, which details the impact of families on the educational and lifetime achievements of their children.

The report is based on a detailed review of academic research into how families shape their children’s educational outcomes, from early childhood to adolescence.

The results are interesting. Parental education and the home learning environment are the strongest positive influencers, followed by parental aspirations and expectations.

Grandparent support (especially from grandmothers) and child participation in extra-curricular activities contribute to educational and later-life outcomes, especially for disadvantaged children.

Surprisingly, family structure, birth order and family size have only a limited and indirect effect on life outcomes, once income, parental education, stress and mental well-being are taken into account.

The full report can be studied on the Commission's website.