The Sutton Trust

14 Nov 2024

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suttontrust.comHow could the Chancellor boost social mobility on Budget day? - The Sutton TrustAhead of the Budget, Rocky Lorusso discusses the key education, skills and employability measures that could really make a difference

💬 “Many of the challenges relating to inequality of opportunity also remain largely unchanged, and these issues are holding our economy back.” More on the measures needed in tomorrow’s Budget to move the dial on social mobility ⬇️ www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...

blogs.lse.ac.ukAudacity – not confidence – propels private school students to elite careersPrivate schools are credited with giving their pupils an “ease” or “polish” that propels them into elite careers. But is privilege being mistaken for merit?

💬” What are the processes and practices taking place within the walls of elite private schools that help scaffold this pipeline from school to future success?” Elitist Britain was cited in @lseblogs.bsky.social piece on how privilege is reproduced and too often mistaken for merit. buff.ly/Hc7j74A

buff.lySenior Programmes Manager - The Sutton TrustDeadline: 9:00 AM, 2nd November . Senior Programmes Manager. The Sutton Trust is the UK's leading social mobility charity. Our programmes empower young people to access life-changing opportunities,...

We're hiring a Senior Programmes Manager 🚀 Join the Sutton Trust to lead our employability programmes, support talented young people to access top universities, apprenticeships and careers, and help shape our future programmes strategy. 📅 Closes 2 Nov Apply now ⤵️ buff.ly/MaV9FFT

tes.comEYFS: Disadvantage gap widens for fourth straight yearRecord levels of 4- and 5-year-olds meeting their development targets, annual Department for Education data also reveals

School readiness has reached a record high, with 72% of reception children achieving a good level of development last year. But the disadvantage gap continues to widen. www.tes.com/magazine/new...

suttontrust.comInequality in early years education - The Sutton TrustThe first policy briefing in our General Election series looks at early education.

While 76% of non-FSM children received a good level of development, only 55% of FSM-eligible children did so. As our briefing on early years inequality laid out, too many disadvantaged children are still missing out on support. www.suttontrust.com/our-research...

The early years are crucial to closing the disadvantage gap. Yet many children from the poorest families still miss out on the early education entitlement that could make the biggest difference to their development. It's vital that quality early years support is available to every child.

New Chancellor, new government, new approach to social mobility? Ahead of the Budget, our Head of Communications and Public Affairs, @rockylorusso.bsky.social, discusses the key education, skills and employability measures that could really make a difference ✍️ buff.ly/6Ee7CCz

The Sutton Trust reposted

suttontrust.comPoverty, place and partnerships: Why it matters for educators to work with The Sutton Trust - The Sutton TrustOur Regional Ambassador, Sean Harris, reflects on navigating poverty and place through partnerships.

✍ "We cannot easily imagine ourselves somewhere we have never been, doing work you did not know existed, alongside people you have never met." @thatpovertyguy.bsky.social on making opportunity more visible through stronger partnerships and collaborations ⤵️ www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...

hepi.ac.ukUniversities cannot leave social mobility to their widening participation teams alone - HEPIThis blog was kindly authored by Jon Datta, Head of University Access Programmes, Student Digital Strategy and University Sector Engagement at the Sutton Trust. Universities play a crucial role in…

💬 "Universities play a crucial role in driving social mobility, but this work can’t be successful if teams are working in silos." A strong intervention will achieve less if other university practices work against it - that's why a whole provider approach is needed ⬇️ www.hepi.ac.uk/2026/10/14/u...

🏆 We won! Last week we were delighted to attend the Engineering Talent Awards, where our Pathways to Engineering programme was named Inclusion Programme of the Year. Since 2020, the programme has supported more than 500 young people to explore engineering careers and access opportunities ⬇️

This award highlights the importance of opening up pathways into engineering for talented young people from all backgrounds. A huge thank you to the Engineering Talent Awards for this recognition, and to all our supporters and partners whose commitment makes the programme possible.

💬 “Widening participation teams shouldn’t be left to work around university policies that limit students’ chances of success.” @jondatta.bsky.social on why improving social mobility requires a whole-institution approach by universities, in @hepi-news.bsky.social ⬇️ buff.ly/pJBzyP0

Higher Education Policy Institute

Our alumni spent a valuable morning at the Department for Education, taking part in a speed mentoring session. The event gave students the opportunity to hear directly from civil servants, receiving practical advice on applications and careers in government. Thank you for having us! 🎉

The Sutton Trust reposted

@hepi-news.bsky.social

New Post: Universities cannot leave social mobility to their widening participation teams alone www.hepi.ac.uk/2026/10/14/u...

suttontrust.comThe students with the most to gain from university are still the least likely to get there - The Sutton TrustSocio-economic gaps in access to university haven't changed in two decades.

✍️ “This is about recognising potential, not lowering standards. Wider access makes institutions stronger: a more diverse student body, a deeper talent pool and closer ties to local communities and economies." @nickharrison73.bsky.social on our latest report 👇 www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...

Internships offer a chance to experience the workplace and are often a vital first step into competitive professions. But when a role is unpaid, internships aren’t accessible for those who don’t have the “bank of mum and dad”. Our recommendations on tackling unpaid work ⬇️

suttontrust.comUnpaid and underpaid internships - The Sutton TrustOur survey of graduates and employers reveals the state of play in internships.

Read our full report 🔗 buff.ly/PMNHHXv

🚨 In England, pupils eligible for free school meals are around 20 percentage points less likely than their peers to enter higher education by 19. This gap has not narrowed in two decades. Much more needs to be done to improve access and outcomes for disadvantaged students ⤵️

suttontrust.comAdvancing Social Mobility: A Best Practice Guide For Universities - The Sutton TrustPractical steps for universities to improve access and outcomes for disadvantaged students.

Our best practice guide helps universities be bolder in how they identify, admit, and support talent. Backed with evidence and case studies from leading institutions, it sets out evidence-based, practical steps for them to improve social mobility. www.suttontrust.com/our-research...

💬“If we are serious about building a fairer society, we must also confront the enduring link between where you come from and how you experience life itself.” We found that there’s a ‘happiness gap’ between people born into different socio-economic circumstances ⬇️

suttontrust.comThe Good Life? - The Sutton TrustExploring the link between social mobility and happiness.

Luckily, social mobility closes most of this gap. Read our full report on the link between social mobility and happiness 🔗 www.suttontrust.com/our-research...

📣 Today, we published a best practice guide on how universities can better support disadvantaged students. As part of this work, we spoke directly to students from low-income backgrounds. They discussed different challenges they’ve faced, including ones with academic staff ⬇️

Support from tutors and academic advisors was essential in shaping their overall university experience. Some gave examples of supervisors failing to meet regularly with them, which negatively impacted their studies 👎

suttontrust.comAdvancing Social Mobility: A Best Practice Guide For Universities - The Sutton TrustPractical steps for universities to improve access and outcomes for disadvantaged students.

Our best practice guide gives step-by-step details on how universities can improve the experience and outcomes of these students. Read the full report for more 🔗 buff.ly/Ml8Ef0E

When asked how their experience differed to wealthier students, participants thought more affluent students took many things more for granted ⬇️

First-generation disadvantaged students also felt they were starting behind peers with stronger networks in the hunt for jobs. Course support from universities was well received, but some felt that it could have come earlier in the undergraduate process.

Financial and social difficulties were common challenges mentioned by low-income students 💳️ Some spoke of being forced to live at home due to cost of living, which more students are now doing. This can severely limit the options and opportunities available to them.

When universities reached out proactively with transparent advice about financial support, it made a big difference 👏 Many said that if universities didn’t proactively reach out, they wouldn’t have found it themselves.

suttontrust.comUniversities urged to double down on access and support for poorest students - The Sutton TrustNew analysis shows that poorer students have the most to gain from getting a degree.

🗣️ "It is clear that higher education transforms individual lives. But it is not currently delivering social mobility at scale on a national level." More on how universities can close wide and persistent gaps in access by socio-economic background ⤵️ www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...

🚨 NEW: Poorer students have the most to gain from university, but they’re the least likely to go. Our brand-new best practice guide argues universities should redouble efforts to support disadvantaged students 🧵

Universities are engines of social mobility. But they must do more to help disadvantaged students. This could be done via clearer contextual admissions, more timely financial support, teaching that recognises work and caring commitments, and stronger routes into employment.

💬 “Universities are working hard despite financial pressures, but doing more of the same is no longer enough.” Read our best practice guide for universities ⬇️ www.suttontrust.com/our-research...

Despite rising numbers of students attending university overall, disadvantaged students are still missing out. Wide gaps in access to university haven't changed in two decades. And less than 5% of FSM students go to elite ‘high tariff’ institutions, where the rewards are greatest.

Our guide provides details on what universities can do to support disadvantaged students. It offers evidence-based, practical steps to addressing unequal access, experience, and outcomes for students from low-income backgrounds.

Social mobility in this country has been low for a long time. Universities can help change that, but how? What can they do differently to recruit and support more disadvantaged students? Our best practice guide provides details on how they can do that. Out tomorrow.

independent.co.ukThe UK’s growth and opportunity problems are two sides of the same failureIn order to get talented young people into work Andy Burnham must engage companies as well as classrooms, says Sutton Trust CEO Nick Harrison

Andy Burnham's government must engage companies as well as classrooms in order to get talented young people into work. Our CEO, @nickharrison73.bsky.social, on the relationship between government and business in @the-independent.com ⤵️ www.independent.co.uk/voices/brita...

Businesses have an essential part to play - many of the decisions that turn potential into opportunity are made in the private sector.

Government can provide stable rules, faster planning, reliable infrastructure, and support for technology adoption. But in return, firms should raise productive investment, train more of their workforce, open routes into good jobs, and widen access to progression.

Education develops potential, but the labour market decides whether it is rewarded. And our research shows how often it is not. Across combinations of class, ethnicity, gender and place, even groups that do well at school routinely see that success vanish in their pay.

suttontrust.comSummer Schools 2026: seeing potential come to life - The Sutton TrustReflecting on our 2026 UK Summer Schools.

✍️ "There’s something so powerful about opening up institutions with that kind of history to young people who are often the first in their family to set foot inside one." Reflecting on our UK Summer Schools 👇 www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...

thesuttontrust.createsend.comhttps://thesuttontrust.createsend.com/t/j-e-yhxykuk-l-l/

Our September newsletter is out 📬 We hosted two fantastic panel events at Labour Party Conference, respond to key education developments, share updates on programme applications, and reveal our new Regional Ambassadors. Read more 🔗 buff.ly/qXRXtjU

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observer.co.ukCricket is damning example of British society’s inability...Only 7% of children are privately educated, yet they go on to dominate England teams. We must ensure the exceptions don’t become even rarer

“Cricket, more than any sport, exemplifies British society’s inability to offer anything like equality of opportunity” Great to see our Elitist Britain research cited in The Observer. Cricket remains an outlier when it comes to equal representation ⤵️ buff.ly/0LB6E2u

📢 At this year's Labour Party Conference we hosted two fantastic panel events, one on education inequality across the UK and one on boosting apprenticeship opportunities for young people. Thank you to all panellists and attendees for two engaging and varied discussions 🧵⤵️

It highlighted the importance of apprenticeships and how they can help create pathways into good careers for young people from all backgrounds.

To learn more about Sutton Trust events, or to work with us on future events, please get touch with our Senior Marketing and Events Manager Sophie Garner at sophie.garner@suttontrust.com 📩

The first on educational inequality heard from @lewisgoodall.com @georgiagould.bsky.social Helena Dollimore MP @lindseymacmillan.bsky.social @carlcullinane.bsky.social. Our panellists discussed the role devolution, Mission Coastal and Mission North East can play in addressing education inequality.