CHILDREN from well-off families are protected by a “glass floor” which helps them avoid being financially unsuccessful — even if they are less academically able than poorer youngsters.

A study by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission revealed yesterday that richer families are able to “hoard the best opportunities” for their children to the detriment of cleverer children from poorer families.

It reports that wealthier parents often help their children by using their social networks and finding them useful unpaid internships.

The report indicated those highest up the social ladder may have to make way for others as attempts are made to increase social mobility.

It said: “If policy-makers are determined to increase social mobility in a climate where ‘room at the top’ is not expanding then the factors that limit downward mobility will need to be addressed.”

The report suggested a number of ways to tackle the issue, including ending unpaid internships, improving the quality of schools in disadvantaged areas and educating parents to improve their skills and perspectives.

Study author Dr Abigail McKnight from the London School of Economics said: “The fact that middle-class families are successful in hoarding the best opportunities in the education system and in the labour market is a real barrier to the upward social mobility of less advantaged children.”

“Children from less-advantaged families who show high potential at age five are struggling to convert this potential into later labour-market success.”