Executive summary
Although there is good evidence of the role of education in individual links in the
complex picture of causality described, there are two particular evidence gaps in
terms of: (i) simultaneous assessment of the role of education in the whole
framework, and, (ii) the identification of causality in the relationships observed.
Conclusions
We conclude that the intergenerational transmission of educational success is a key
element in equality of opportunity. There are substantial benefits of education that
accrue to individuals and society in terms of what education enables parents to pass
on to their children.
Understanding the way in which the features of the model interact can help in
ensuring that policies run in sync with developmental processes and interactions
between contexts rather than operating in opposition to these wider forces. The
ecological model presented here is an example of the kind of holistic perspective that
may help in these policy formulations.