🚨 NEW: There is a ‘happiness gap’ between people born into different social classes, we have found. Our research with Co-op finds that wellbeing remains closely tied to the social status you’re born into, but social mobility helps to close most of this gap ⬇️🧵

Is social mobility just about jobs and income? Does getting ahead in life make you happier? Our new research with Co-op delves into the links between social mobility and happiness, and how this is affected by education, geographical mobility and age. Out tomorrow!

🎧Interesting podcast episode from The Rest Is Entertainment on nepotism. We found that younger adults from working-class backgrounds are 4x less likely to work in the creative industries compared to their middle-class peers. Worth a listen! buff.ly/46PfSFr Our report ➡️ buff.ly/gU2yUSu

🚨 Teachers in private schools may be benefitting more from the advantages of AI in the classroom than teachers in state schools. Our research on AI in education reveals growing gaps in how the technology is being adopted across the sector 👇 www.suttontrust.com/our-research...

💬 "There’s a real risk of the world of acting becoming even more restricted to a privileged few." This country is full of talented actors, but many young people are being prevented from carving out thriving careers. Change is needed.

💭 How can I stay up to date with the Sutton Trust? Sign up to our monthly newsletter! 📧 Each month, we provide the latest updates on our research, programmes, and news and opinion ⤵️ confirmsubscription.com/h/j/C2E2F623...

🎙️ NEW PODCAST 🎙️ From cost to access, this episode highlights why multi-academy trusts need to take a strategic view of admissions, as well as the value of small, practical changes to admissions. Listen to the Fair School Admissions Podcast ⬇️

Local government plays a vital part in public service delivery with responsibilities for schools, housing, planning, social care, and more. Our research found that just 10% of local government leaders went to private school - less than half of the rate of MPs ⬇️

📢 Join us for a Sutton Trust & @smfthinktank.bsky.social panel event to discuss our forthcoming report on the role of school-based nurseries in improving access & closing the disadvantage gap. RSVP via lnkd.in/ea2zXWw9 This research & event are generously supported by @nuffieldfoundation.org

📊 Brand-new admissions tool designed for school leaders! The Pupil Premium Admissions Simulator is designed to help schools introduce a pupil premium priority into their admissions policies. Use the tool to see the different approaches you can take ⤵️ www.suttontrust.com/pupil-premiu...

🚨 Top and bottom constituencies for social mobility 🚨 Our Opportunity Index reveals how life chances are determined by the area you grow up in. See where your constituency ranks ⬇️ www.suttontrust.com/our-research...

School leaders lack awareness of the extent of segregation in admissions, with affluent pupils almost twice as likely to attend top-performing schools as poorer students, according to @suttontrust.bsky.social research

An amazing set of resources for teachers & leaders looking to become more inclusive. Videos, podcasts, case studies, an online learning module, and two interactive tools allowing schools to compare their intake to their locality, as well as simulate the impact of different admissions policy changes.

Do the "best" schools take their fair share of disadvantaged schools, or is at least a part of their success due to stealth selection? Fascinating conversation with @charleyo.bsky.social from @suttontrust.bsky.social - please share if you can! open.spotify.com/episode/4rXm...

Brilliant to see this new 'Fair Admissions Hub' from @suttontrust.bsky.social. A great resource for supporting schools wishing to ensure good practice www.suttontrust.com/fair-school-...

👀 Want to hear examples of how to create fairer school admissions policies? Listen to our new podcast series, where @charleyo.bsky.social, speaks to directly leaders who are working to make sure their schools are accessible to pupils from all backgrounds 🎙️

New analysis from @naht.org.uk finds that Ofsted is more likely to downgrade schools with poorer intakes or more pupils with SEND for their achievement, attendance and behaviour. These findings are very concerning 🧵⬇️ schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-more-...

🚨 We've launched a brand-new free hub of resources to help schools change their admissions policies! The Fair School Admissions Hub is a one-stop shop for school leaders looking to improve their admissions and increase social diversity in their school ⬇️ www.suttontrust.com/fair-school-...

📣 We're calling for a Student Premium (modelled on the Pupil Premium) to end the funding cliff edge faced by young people from disadvantaged backgrounds at age 16. Read about our coalition with 13 leading social mobility and education organisations ⤵️ www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

School finances are under pressure. Senior leaders are having to make cuts to essential staff and activities. Nearly half are using funding meant for disadvantaged pupils to plug gaps in their general budgets ⤵️

💬 "There was a really welcome commitment to halving the disadvantage gap in the schools white papers, but I think in terms of the policies already announced, they're unlikely to reach that target." @carlcullinane.bsky.social on the policies needed to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils ⤵️

💬 "At some point, we need to decide whether we’re serious about education in this country or not.” Our new research reveals a deeply concerning picture for our schools, with cuts still being made to essential staff and activities.

💬 "Schools are in a financial crisis that’s more than a decade and a half in the making, and we’re seeing the long-term results of those cuts today." @nickharrison73.bsky.social Our new research on school finances covered in The Guardian 🗞️ www.theguardian.com/education/20...

🚨 NEW: Schools are continuing to cut back on staff, subjects, and SEND support, we have found. Our new research reveals a worrying picture for schools, with essential staff and activities being cut to manage tight budgets ⬇️🧵

For years, we have documented the financial pressures our schools are facing. How are school leaders managing their finances this year? What areas are they cutting to cope with squeezed budgets? Our annual polling of teachers and school leaders, out tomorrow.

🗣️ "One-to-one and small group tutoring is one of the most effective interventions a school can give to those particularly from a disadvantaged background." @carlcullinane.bsky.social More on what the Government should be focusing on to reach their goal of halving the attainment gap 📺⤵️

💬 "Statistics tell part of the story. They don’t tell all of it." Our annua review demonstrates the breadth and depth of our impact, but our work is about much more than numbers. Dive deeper into what sits behind our data 👇

💬 "Today only a tiny proportion of medical students come from working class families, so this announcement is a welcome commitment to change." The Dept of Health and Social Care has announced a package of measures to break down barriers to medical careers for people from disadvantaged backgrounds ⬇️

Our Director of Research and Policy, @carlcullinane.bsky.social, was in Parliament today giving evidence to the joint inquiry on the Government’s new Child Poverty Strategy. He outlined some of the key policies that are needed to improve educational outcomes for children living in poverty 📺⤵️

✍️ "Behind every data point in this review is a young person who came to one of our programmes not quite sure they belonged — in a lecture theatre, a law firm, an engineering company — and left knowing they did." More takeaways from our 2024/25 annual review ⬇️

Our 2024/25 Annual Review is out now! 🥳 In a record year, we supported over 14,500 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds through our university access and employability programmes during 2024/25 – our highest number ever.

🚨 Interactive map revealing access to opportunity by constituency 🚨 Our research looked closely at how at opportunities for less advantaged young people differ by area. Use our map to see how each constituency ranks 📍 www.suttontrust.com/opportunity-...

✍️ "This is a tragedy for individuals, but also means our economy is missing out on a huge amount of potential talent." The gap in attainment between richer and poorer pupils has lifelong implications - for both individuals and society. It must be tackled ⤵️

You shouldn't have to change your accent to progress in your career. Our research highlights the prominence of accent bias, and how many people feel that their accent might limit their career prospects. More on their experiences of accent discrimination ⬇️ www.suttontrust.com/our-research...

💬 "We applied because we believe admissions should never be a barrier to opportunity." Read about the excellent work Orion Education have been doing to implement fairer admissions policies in their schools 👇

📍 Our interactive map, updated with new data, offers rich insights into the socio-economic makeup of school intakes across England. Use it to see how secondary schools represent their local community, including pupils on free school meals and those with SEND ⬇️ www.suttontrust.com/school-admis...

✍️ "Access to opportunity shouldn’t come with the condition of having to leave everything behind." Bethany, a member of our Alumni Leadership Board, outlines why perceptions of social mobility need to broadened to cover a wider range of journeys 👇

💬 "We chose to review our admissions policies — not for the award, but because it was right." In our latest guest blog, Orion Education CEO Simon Garrill discusses their efforts to champion opportunity and inclusion across their school community. www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...

Apprenticeship starts up over the last 6 months, mainly driven by higher level: L4 (28k +17%), L5 (20k +23%), L6(20k +6%), L7(26k +50%;). Good news of sorts - but young people under 19 only 24% of starts. The system still isn't delivering for the young. @suttontrust.bsky.social

Surely we can provide school kids with proper lunches? Sounds like a niche point - but feels important to underline good food habits with school kids, and ensure proper nutrition to aid learning. Saving money on school lunches feels short-term and counter productive. @suttontrust.bsky.social

✍️ "Almost 1 million young people aged 16-24 are NEET...The risk of being NEET is also over double if someone comes from a disadvantaged background and has low qualifications." Our thoughts on the Milburn Review following our submission to the call for evidence ⬇️

✍️ "We cannot allow a two-tier education system to become the permanent status quo in the UK." Great to see @actiontutoring.org.uk CEO, Jen Fox, fully support the recommendations from our latest report on unequal access to tutoring ⤵️

💬 “Right now, too many young people aren’t able to get the support they need locally, and that’s a disgrace.” Our new research shows that top secondary schools are effectively shutting out local disadvantaged pupils with SEND ⤵️

💬 "Across my years of work in social mobility and early careers, I had never encountered anything quite like the Sutton Trust’s Opportunity Bursary fund." Read about the power of our Opportunity Bursary and how it helps our students 👇

A strong early years workforce is essential to children, families and the wider economy. New research from @coalitionedcare.bsky.social sets out pressures the workforce are facing today. www.earlyeducationchildcare.org/model-for-ch...

We welcome the Department for Education's move to create more places in mainstream schools for children with SEND. A big focus of our recent research on SEND, disadvantage, and school admissions was on the need to increase capacity in mainstream schools ⬇️ www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Graduates who experienced poverty in childhood still face a significant earnings gap after a decade in work 👎 An important new report from @resolutionfoundation.org reveals how childhood disadvantage shapes the earnings of university grads in England 🧵 www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...

💡 Powerful and important discussions on the SEND system took place yesterday at our panel event on the government's proposed reforms. The event marked the launch of our research analysing the relationship between disadvantage and SEND in school admissions 🧵

We are in a crucial period for the future of the SEND system. Our new research underlines the importance of considering the interaction between socio-economic disadvantage and SEND in ongoing debates surrounding inclusion. www.theguardian.com/education/20...

🔎 How well do secondary schools represent their local community, including pupils on free school meals and those with SEND? Our interactive map - which features insights on the socio-economic makeup of school intakes - has been updated to include data on their SEND cohorts.