Really looking forward to chairing this event next week to look at the realistic options for SEND reform. Make sure you RSVP to secure your spot -

🚨 New research 🚨 We wanted to look at the realistic options for SEND reform, asking teachers where they would focus if there was no additional funding. Given the debate so far on limiting EHCPs and moving focus has been very negative, we were surprised to find over half of teachers back it ⤵️

As we await the government's upcoming announcement on SEND reform, we're hosting a panel next week to discuss what the options actually are on reform. Also keep an eye out later this week for a paper on the topic from @danihpayne.bsky.social and I, including new data via @teachertapp.bsky.social

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us earlier this week for our event on social mobility, regional inequalities and young people not in employment, education or training (NEET)

🗓️ Also next week - join the @smfthinktank.bsky.social for an afternoon of discussions on social mobility, regional inequalities and the NEET challenge

Looking forward to this event next week discussing NEET & regional inequalities. We'll hear from Rt Hon Alan Milburn alongside a range of brilliant speakers inc @suttontrust.bsky.social, Recruitment & Employment Confederation, @impetus.org.uk, @cepeo-ucl.bsky.social & Cambridgeshire Regional College

Higher education is often lauded as education’s ‘jewel in the crown’ – but there are no shortage of criticisms about the sector. Nicola Dandridge writes for the SMF about the role of evaluation, and how best to encourage long-term, evidence-based policy. Read the full briefing: buff.ly/Ak4THUm

We're looking for case studies! 📢 The @suttontrust.bsky.social and @smfthinktank.bsky.social are researching school based nurseries - and we're looking far and wide for schools and early years settings with strong partnerships....

If you're attending, pleasingly it'll be relatively hard to avoid the @smfthinktank.bsky.social - our Head of Education and Social Mobility @danihpayne.bsky.social will be on this panel on the future of access and participation ⤵️

Ahead of tonight's Smart Thinking Awards, we're delighted that @danihpayne.bsky.social has been nominated for Think Tanker of the Year!🎉

We're so proud that our own @danihpayne.bsky.social is a finalist for the Smart Thinking Awards' Researcher of the Year!🎉 Dani is our fantastic Head of Education and Social Mobility - working to find policy solutions to make sure everyone has the best start in life.

We're delighted that our Head of Education & Social Mobility @danihpayne.bsky.social will join the Govt's Higher Education Access and Participation Task and Finish Group, which aims to help more students from disadvantaged backgrounds access higher education. buff.ly/JfwInFI

Out of office: on.

The SMF welcomes the new V Level qualifications announced by the Government, as a way of making vocational training more accessable and improving social mobility. Read @danihpayne.bsky.social's full analysis: buff.ly/gQgB20H

A new combined FE/HE target is a great step forwards. HE can be a vital route to social mobility for many, it won’t be right for all. Apprenticeships can also provide pathways into high skilled jobs & we should be ensuring disadvantaged young people access high quality provision across all pathways

A new combined FE/HE target is a great step forwards. HE can be a vital route to social mobility for many, it won’t be right for all. Apprenticeships can also provide pathways into high skilled jobs & we should be ensuring disadvantaged young people access high quality provision across all pathways

Social Market Foundation Head of Education and Social Mobility @danihpayne.bsky.social on yesterday's maintenance grant announcement - www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Hoozle is unhappy about the other man in my life (Larry).

I'm in the Guardian on the economic challenges posed by falling fertility rates - www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

As rumours of a reshuffle abound, we take a look at the history of frontbench churn and reshuffles. Can historical trends tell us anything about how Starmer might approach a potential reshuffle? SMF's @jamiegollings.bsky.social takes a deep dive. www.smf.co.uk/commentary_p...

Year after year, we continue to see large regional gaps in the grades young people achieve at GCSE. While potential is spread evenly across the country, opportunity is not. @danihpayne.bsky.social and I on today's GCSE results day - www.smf.co.uk/commentary_p...

🧵SMF analysis of #GCSEResultsDay2025 Regional inequalities in attainment persist: 🟡72% of GCSEs taken by London pupils were graded at 4/C or above, vs just 63% in the West Midlands 🟡 London benefits from the highest % of grade 7s+ - while the North East has the lowest

#ResultsDay2025 📻ICYMI, Research Director @beckymontacute.bsky.social speaking to @tomswarbrick.bsky.social on @lbc.co.uk this morning 👇"...throughout their time at school, those gaps between the richest and poorest widen as they go through the school system and into the workplace."

Head of Education and Social Mobility @danihpayne.bsky.social on the @telegraphnews.bsky.social's front page today With top unis accepting record amounts of applicants, she warned that it could result in overcrowding... ...while lower-ranking institutions ultimately lose out.

This chart from @smfthinktank.bsky.social shows the problem. The most selective unis are hoovering up students to manage their finances, leaving others at risk of closure. The market needs managing.

SMF analysis of Level 3 #ResultsDay2025 Regional divides widen and gaps between students from the most & least deprived areas persist, amidst record results. 👇Education experts @danihpayne.bsky.social and @beckymontacute.bsky.social breakdown the data www.smf.co.uk/commentary_p...

Blog up on the major take aways from today's results day from @danihpayne.bsky.social and me - www.smf.co.uk/commentary_p...

Many students today will be celebrating as more are getting into their first choice uni, even if they missed their grades But universities continue to fail to tackle gaps between students from the most & least deprived areas, & regional inequalities are widening #ResultsDay2025

📚Level 3 Results Day analysis📚 Key points: 🔵Regional gaps in university entry continue to widen 🔵Progress on widening access has stalled 🔵Lower tariff unis still squeezed as higher and medium tariff institutions expand to plug budget gaps 🧵for details

🚨 #ALevelResultsDay : Breaking @smfthinktank.bsky.social analysis reveals stark regional uni inequalities - and these are widening over time 🚨 Students in London and the South East are far more likely to be receiving acceptances today, whilst lowest rates are seen in the NE and SW

Ahead of Level 3 (A Level and T level) results day tomorrow - what trends have we seen in access over the last few years, and what should we be looking out for on the day? Analysis from the SMF's Head of Education and Social Mobility @danihpayne.bsky.social in the thread below -

For policymakers and the HE sector, #ResultsDay reveals a great deal about - how the higher education system is functioning - who it is reaching - how well it is navigating a turbulent financial environment. 4️⃣ trends to keep in mind when the results and UCAS data land tomorrow🧵

Gordon Brown has called for taxes on the gambling industry (citing recent Social Market Foundation @smfthinktank.bsky.social research on gambling taxes) to raise funds to allow the government to tackle child poverty - www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

🥇Particular congrats go to @danihpayne.bsky.social @smfthinktank.bsky.social for the number 1 report 'Leave to achieve' - read it again here: bit.ly/44sJsH3 #mostread #thinktanks

Brilliant to see my recent report on how universities can contribute to local social mobility top the @smartthinking.bsky.social leaderboard for most read think tank report in June - & great to see @smfthinktank.bsky.social take first place for most searched think tank! www.smf.co.uk/publications...

Open call for research participants - looking to interview those working in the digital or financial space in universities, and/or those will experience/knowledge of digital transformation in the public and private sector. Get in touch if this is you, & please share! @smfthinktank.bsky.social

I worry that the debate on social media/smart phones & young people’s mental health is becoming about who can shout the loudest, rather than the evidence. The research is much more mixed, often showing small or no impact, than some would have you think. t.co/kbwXwneY8N

In my latest podcast episode, @danihpayne.bsky.social from the @smfthinktank.bsky.social highlighted how little attention the higher education sector received in the Spending Review and also discussed why this matters. Listen to the full episode here: insideyoured.com

If you need something to listen to on your morning commute… Had a brilliant time chatting with Katie and Tom about the Spending Review. What was announced for HE (spoiler: not much 🥲)? What might the post-16 white paper bring for the sector? And what is on my DfE policy wish-list? 🎁💵

Thanks to @nicolawoolcock.bsky.social for the coverage of our new report in @thetimes.com today. Regional disparities in access to HE are significant: a place-based approach to widening access, one that encourages & facilitates collaboration within regions, is needed to help close these gaps.

As a Chinese international student during the first Trump administration, Qian Di was accused of research misconduct for his work on air quality, and eventually chose to return to China. In this piece he reflects on his experiences, and the continued impacts of hostile US policies. rdcu.be/epAMd

Interesting choice for UUK to draw a direct comparison between HE vs. school & college funding. Is the claim really that colleges have been lavished with funding compared to HE? "The university system is being repeatedly deprioritised in favour of investment in schools and colleges." (1/2)

NEW: Sure Start generated widespread, long-lasting benefits for children in education, health, absences, and SEND. Every £1 of up-front spending on Sure Start could generate around £2 in total benefits over the long run. THREAD on our new ‪@nuffieldfoundation.org‬-funded report: [1/11]

On universities the white paper only reduces the graduate visa from two years to 18 months (which is a win for the DfE). The bigger thing universities will be worrying about is this little timebomb.

📢 Our latest report, A Workforce Fit for the Future, explores jobs & skills policy in Scotland – and how smart reforms could give the country a much-needed economic boost. 🧵 on new work from @jamiegollings.bsky.social & John Asthana Gibson, in collaboration with Our Scottish Future.

If I exclude from my income all my expenses I'm earning less than the minimum wage. This is a disgrace. I blame the government. www.thetimes.com/uk/education...

✨Happy equinox✨ We've published some really great opinion pieces so far this month at Nature Human Behaviour! Like these, on: - DEI across cultures - AI in academia - climate resilience & archaeology - credit in scientific publishing - social media & prosocial behaviour - US science! Links below

@beckyfrancis.bsky.social’s interim report is cautious and sensible but clear about where change is needed. Pleased to see @smfthinktank.bsky.social recommendations to reduce the volume of KS4 assessment being considered by the Review - this is vital to tackle rote learning and improve wellbeing

New house, new views (and new friends 🐑)

Important new evidence published today: large-scale DofE trial (N=12,166) found that two universal MH awareness interventions, in secondary schools, led to an *increase* in emotional symptoms at long term (9-12 month) follow up tinyurl.com/4ffday8y Thread below /1