Archives: Reports

Staying the course

This report from UK think tank the Sutton Trust offers recommendations to improve apprenticeship completion for young people. Apprenticeships are having their moment. While our major political parties are divided on several aspects of education policy, they share a belief that apprenticeships hold great potential for young people. But this potential is not currently being...

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Advancing social mobility

This report from UK think tank the Sutton Trust is a best practice guide aiming to lead the way for universities looking to address advancing social mobility. Universities have a powerful role in addressing low social mobility. Despite rising numbers of students attending university overall, there is still a 20-percentage point gap in university access...

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Sutton Trust Cabinet analysis 2026

This report from UK think tank the Sutton Trust examines the new Cabinet's education backgrounds. Andy Burnham is the new Prime Minister, and he has now appointed his cabinet. Here we look at their education backgrounds. At 72%, the majority of the new cabinet went to state comprehensives. 24% attended private schools. This new cabinet...

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Evidence review on university contextual admissions

This report from UK think tank the Sutton Trust considers approaches, prevalence, current debates and evaluations surrounding contextual admissions in the UK. Contextual admissions refers to universities considering a student’s individual circumstances and background to understand their potential for higher education. It acknowledges systemic barriers, such as time in care or attending under-resourced schools, that...

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Crosssing paths

This report from UK think tank the Sutton Trust explores how gender, ethnicity and place shape opportunity. Our Opportunity Index provided the most detailed ever look at the geography of opportunity and social mobility in England, revealing great disparities between different areas. However, we also know that average outcomes can hide important differences across gender...

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Room to grow

This report from UK think tanks the Sutton Trust and the Social Market Foundation discusses school-based nurseries and the disadvantage gap. The School-based Nursery (or SBN) programme is a major government policy aiming to deliver on two early years priorities: to expand access to childcare for working families and to increase the proportion of children...

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The good life?

This report from UK think tank the Sutton Trust explores the relationship between social mobility and happiness. Is social mobility just about jobs and income? Does being upwardly mobile make you happy? Does socio-economic background determine who gets to live good, healthy and happy lives? This report examines the connection between happiness, wellbeing, life satisfaction,...

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Admissions not impossible

This report from UK think tank the Sutton Trust urges schools to review their admissions systems to address inequalities in access. This report sets out a clear case for why fairer school admissions must be central to any serious effort to improve inclusion. Drawing on new analysis, national data and our direct work with over...

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School funding and the pupil premium 2026

This report from UK think tank the Sutton Trust reveals enduring challenges for schools. For a number of years, our annual survey of teachers has provided detailed insights into school funding pressures and how school leaders are spending their budgets. Last year’s release showed a worsening picture for school funding, with more school leaders reporting...

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Selective inclusion

This report from UK think tank the Sutton Trust examines the interplay of SEND and disadvantage in school admissions. There is widespread acceptance that the SEND (Special Education Needs and Disability) system is in crisis but fierce debate surrounding ways forward. Greater demand is being placed on a system that is complex, notoriously difficult to...

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