"If the incoming Burnham government is serious about helping the next generation succeed, it should start by embracing the ambitions set out in the schools white paper – and commit to the changes needed to deliver them." @juliemcculloch.bsky.social on this year's Annual Report & the incoming PM.

Burnham's 'challenge' as pledge to halve schools disadvantage gap gets tougher

The government's white paper set a welcome target: halve the disadvantage gap in a generation. EPI's Annual Report 2026 finds that on current trends, that ambition is moving further out of reach, not closer. Read the full report, published today: epi.org.uk/annual-repor...

The fact that the latest school workforce figures show ‘favourable conditions’ is largely down to external factors rather than the government’s efforts on recruitment and retention, says @edupolicyinst.bsky.social

What do the Department for Education’s new statistics on early years entitlements suggest about inequalities in access by local area? www.linkedin.com/posts/tammy-...

Teacher recruitment and retention have improved. But EPI's James Zuccollo finds the recovery isn't down to policy - it's borrowed from a shrinking pupil population and a weak graduate job market, both of which could reverse. epi.org.uk/publications...

EPI is hiring an Events Manager to lead our sector-leading convening programme, bringing together policymakers and experts to shape education policy. £36k–£40k - 30 days leave - 8–10% pension Closes 21 July Full job description and application details here: epi.org.uk/jobs/events-...

A pressing topic on the agenda today, as EPI and @teachfirst.bsky.social brought together policymakers, school leaders and sector experts to discuss persistent disadvantage in schools, marking a new report drawing on research commissioned from EPI. Full report: www.teachfirst.org.uk/reports/clas...

Last night we celebrated ten years of EPI - great to have the Secretary of State @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social join us and speak about evidence-based policy and the focus on disadvantage that sits at the heart of our work. Thanks to @aqaeducation.bsky.social for partnering with us and hosting.

EPI is proud to launch the Early Years Observatory (EYO) - a dedicated hub for data, policy analysis, and commentary on the lives of children under five in England. To mark the launch, we’ve published new analysis, commentary, and explainers, with more rolling out regularly. A thread 🧵

🚨 Almost half of the GCSE attainment gap between poorer pupils and their better-off peers is “locked in” by the end of primary school. Concerning findings from @theeef.bsky.social and @edupolicyinst.bsky.social new research 🧵⬇️ educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/news/disadva...

Almost half of the GCSE attainment gap between poorer pupils and their better-off peers is 'locked in' by the end of primary school, new research has warned https://schoolsweek.co.uk/almost-half-of-the-disadvantage-gap-locks-in-by-age-11-research/

Nearly half (44 per cent) of the gap between the GCSE results of disadvantaged pupils and their peers already exists at age 11. EPI's latest report, co-published by @theeef.bsky.social, provides the most comprehensive examination to date of the socioeconomic attainment gap in England.

Following the huge success of last year's inaugural awards the Smart Thinking Think Tank Awards are BACK for 2026 and officially open for applications! Key info: ✅Free to apply ✅Open to all UK-based think tanks ✅11 categories up for grabs All information can be found here: bit.ly/4al6UK5

Schools closing due to falling pupil numbers aren't affecting all children equally. BBC analysis shows nearly 30% of pupils in closed schools had special educational needs, vs 20% in the wider population. EPI's @mrjpandrews.bsky.social spoke to BBC InDepth about what might be driving the disparity.

Exploratory EPI analysis of 16 English secondary schools examines uniform policies. As the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill prepares to cap branded uniform items at four from Sept 2026, the data raises questions about links between uniform enforcement, school image, and pupil belonging.

In some parts of England, there is 1 Educational Psychologist for every 9000 pupils with SEND. In others, it’s 1 for every 500. James Zuccollo @edupolicyinst.bsky.social explains what this means for children, schools & overstretched services. #PsychologyMatters: www.bps.org.uk/news/chronic...

EPI is currently recruiting for two roles - and application deadlines are approaching. Senior Researcher – Vulnerable Learners & Post 16 - Deadline: Mon 25 May, 5pm - epi.org.uk/jobs/senior-... Undergraduate Research Internship 2026 - Deadline: Tues 2 June, midnight - epi.org.uk/jobs/epi-und...

EPI has submitted its response to the government's consultation on 'SEND reform: putting children and young people first'. We welcome many of the proposals. There are, however, areas in which they do not appear to correlate with the available evidence. Read our full response ⬇️

Really interesting findings here as sampled schools don't tend to be using internal exclusions *instead* of suspensions. This comes in the context of government pushing schools to keep more suspended pupils on site to reduce lost learning

New EPI analysis of FOI data from secondary schools in London reveals that higher rates of internal exclusion are associated with higher rates of suspension - suggesting that encouraging internal exclusion is unlikely, in practice, to lead to fewer external suspensions. epi.org.uk/publications...

EPI's summer research internship programme is open for applications! This is a unique opportunity to work alongside leading experts in education policy and gain hands-on experience producing high-quality research and evidence-based analysis that shapes the national conversation. More info ⬇️

A 'postcode lottery' in issuing absence fines remains despite government guidance aimed at standardising the practice, new research has found schoolsweek.co.uk/postcode-lot...

EPI is hiring! We are looking for a Senior Researcher to join our Vulnerable Learners & Post 16 team and help shape our agenda-setting research. Closes 17:00 Monday 25th May. For more info and to apply: epi.org.uk/jobs/senior-... #EducationPolicy #EducationResearch #PolicyJobs #ResearchJobs

New EPI analysis finds that despite a national framework for absence fines, enforcement remains a postcode lottery with London issuing fines to just 3.6% of enrolments and Yorkshire and the Humber issuing them to 10.3%. epi.org.uk/publications...

EPI is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Rose Luckin to its Board of Trustees. Rose is a leading expert on technology in education, Professor Emerita at UCL, and Founder and CEO of Educate Ventures Research (EVR). Read the announcement: epi.org.uk/comments/ros...

Great to be joined by so many colleagues for today's launch of our latest report with @cepeo-ucl.bsky.social: Beyond Teacher Assessed Grades: Post 16 Education Choices and COVID-19 🧵

Government must address chronic shortage of Educational Psychologists as provision gap leaves some pupils 20 times less likely to get support. New BPS funded @edupolicyinst.bsky.social research reveals stark disparity in levels of EP provision 👉 www.bps.org.uk/news/chronic... #PsychologyMatters

EPI's latest report, commissioned by @bpsofficial.bsky.social, reveals a chronic shortage of Educational Psychologists across England, with a 20-fold disparity in access between areas: some have one EP for every 480 pupils. Others just one for every 9,400.

Today, the government published guidance on screen time for under-5s. EPI's Director for Early Years, Inequalities and Wellbeing @drtammycampbell.bsky.social asks: does it meet the needs of parents, carers, and children?

How do we build an effective and inclusive school system? A new summary paper from EPI and Capita brings together insights from policymakers, school leaders, and sector experts - examining SEND reform, workforce retention, funding, and accountability. epi.org.uk/publications...

Nearly three in four (72%) nine-month-old babies have at least some screen time each day, a UK study has found.

Three-quarters of nine-month-olds in England have ‘daily screen time’

Screen time for under‑fives is a hot topic for policymakers, parents and researchers. New EPI analysis shows how common, and how intensive, screen use is during a crucial stage of infant development, highlighting how the home environment shapes early screen exposure.

DfE data shows the share of 16–24-year-olds in England who are NEET remains high. One in eight young people are not in the education system or labour market. New EPI analysis shows NEET rates have returned to post-financial crisis levels. epi.org.uk/publications...

The gov't opted against student finance changes in the Spring Forecast, despite ongoing debate over growing debt and the precarious state of the HE sector. @rcruikshanks.bsky.social and @davidrobinsonedu.bsky.social argue 3 core principles must guide reform: 1️⃣ Sustainability 2️⃣ Equity 3️⃣ Clarity

"Workforce projections built around aggregate numbers say nothing about whether experienced staff are reaching the schools that need them most." EPI's @jzuccollo.bsky.social on the DfE's workforce modelling.

“There are severe shortages nationally, with provision varying enormously across local authorities... far more people want to train as EPs than there are funded places available.” EPI's @jzuccollo.bsky.social spoke to @ktorm-social1.bsky.social about the gov't's experts at hand plan.

Ambition in the schools white paper is clear, but its success will depend on the detail still to come and on support that extends beyond schools themselves. Delivering change will require coordinated action across services. Read EPI’s response to the white paper: epi.org.uk/comments/epi...

“Without substantial increases in the number of funded training places each year, there will not be enough educational psychologists available to staff these services.” In the Guardian today, @jojohutchinson.bsky.social comments on the govt's SEND reform plans ahead of the schools white paper.

@edupolicyinst.bsky.social has appointed a new chief executive, who will take over at the think tank in May

EPI is pleased to announce the appointment of @juliemcculloch.bsky.social as its new Chief Executive. Julie will take up the role at the beginning of May. epi.org.uk/comments/jul...

EPI’s analysis and expertise fed into an important report from the @senedd.wales Children, Young People & Education Committee on teacher recruitment and retention. It underscores the need to match teachers’ dedication with a system that fully supports them: business.senedd.wales/mgIssueHisto...

"If we build it – a stronger team around the child that doesn’t require an EHCP – they will come, and EHCPs will gradually revert to being a less frequently required backstop." Read @jojohutchinson.bsky.social on SEND reform and the schools white paper: epi.org.uk/publications...

With the schools white paper imminent, EPI’s @jojohutchinson.bsky.social lays out the case for an approach that balances fiscal reality with strategic vision - prioritising visible improvements to the experience of children and their families. Full comment piece here: epi.org.uk/publications...

How are MATs using AI across teaching, learning, and administration? Our latest report - supported by @nuffieldfoundation.org - finds that limited evidence on AI’s impact leaves multi‑academy trusts navigating a “wild west” market. Read the full report: epi.org.uk/publications...

"We need to ensure children with SEND and mental health difficulties feel they belong in the mainstream system, while also securing adequate specialist places for those with the most complex needs." EPI's @jojohutchinson.bsky.social spoke to Sky about the concerning rise in elective home education.

Insightful reporting from @jabedahmed.bsky.social w/ commentary from EPI's @jzuccollo.bsky.social: "Teacher salaries are remarkably uniform across most of England, whereas housing costs are anything but. The current pay structure doesn’t capture the reality and disparity of local housing markets."

New exploratory analysis examined behaviour policies from 45 state schools across three London boroughs. We found that written policies vary in ways that align, to an extent, with outcomes linked to pupil wellbeing. Read the full analysis: epi.org.uk/publications...