Lifting Lives: How A Bold New Education Plan Could Revolutionise STEM Access

Disadvantaged young people in the UK face multiple barriers to a successful future in STEM—digital poverty, limited guidance, and weak career pathways.

In an opinion piece for the FT, Andy Haldane outlined a hypothetical “Lifting Lives” model designed to tackle four key barriers that hold back disadvantaged youth from thriving in STEM: digital poverty, limited career guidance, weak vocational routes, and lack of early-years support. Though not a real government programme, it draws on proven interventions to sketch a scalable blueprint for social ventures and policymakers.

1. Digital Equity with AI Tutoring
   Imagine up to a million students equipped with devices, home broadband, and AI-powered tutoring platforms that adapt in real time to their learning pace. Research shows personalised, adaptive learning can boost math and science outcomes by 20–30% in underperforming schools. This component addresses the “digital divide” head-on, ensuring that home environment doesn’t dictate opportunity.

2. Guaranteed Tech Infrastructure
   From tablets to reliable internet, tech access is the foundation. By partnering with telcos and device manufacturers, a “Lifting Lives” fund could underwrite hardware and connectivity—no more homework gaps because of spotty Wi-Fi.

3. Vocational Pathways & Career Guidance
   Reinstating dedicated career-advice budgets and rolling out a UK-wide Technical Baccalaureate would give students hands-on exposure to engineering, coding, and lab sciences. Coupled with work placements in local firms (think RC Vision-style workshops in community centres), this creates clear, aspirational STEM routes.

4. Early-Years & Community Hubs
   Reviving centres akin to Sure Start offers wraparound support—early learning, parental engagement, and mental-wellbeing services. Data from similar models show these hubs can increase primary-school readiness by up to 15%.

By weaving these four strands together, such. policy would offer a cohesive strategy for closing the STEM diversity gap. It’s an invitation to governments, charities, and businesses to collaborate - with ventures like RC Vision - on making this thought experiment a reality.

“Lifting Lives” may be a thought experiment today, but it can—and should—become tomorrow’s blueprint. Let’s turn this imagined roadmap into real action, so every child has the chance to engineer their own future.

Ft.com

Keywords: UK STEM education, social mobility, Lifting Lives programme, AI tutoring, STEM careers, vocational pathways, digital inclusion