This report from UK think tank Carnegie UK measures wellbeing in England in 2026. This is the latest edition of our annual Life in the UK - England index, now with four years’ worth of data trends, enabling us to take a slightly longer-term view of how people across England are living. Disappointingly, for the...

This report from UK think tank the David Hume Institute states that Scotland needs to ensure that curriculum flexibility translates into meaningful opportunities for learners. National Progression Awards (NPAs) are becoming an increasingly important part of Scotland's senior phase curriculum. However, recorded school-centre provision varies considerably, and learners may face uncertainty about how NPAs are...

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...

This report from UK think tank Civitas states new ‘parental covenants’ are needed between teachers and parents to protect children from excessive phone use. Our children are growing up online. Almost every child in Britain is using the internet by the age of nine and over half own a smartphone by eleven, some spending up...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government analyses the Government's public services performance in 2026. Despite progress in some areas, Starmer's reform agenda did not live up to expectations and leaves Burnham with difficult choices. The ‘honeymoon period’ enjoyed by Keir Starmer’s Labour Party in the summer of 2024 was possibly the...

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...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government states the government should set out a clear long-term vision for the structure of the school system. By the time Andy Burnham entered government earlier this year, an ambitious education agenda was already well under way. Over its two years in office, the Starmer government...

This report from UK think tank City-REDI examines the geographic inequalities in young people who are not in employment, education or training across the UK. This report argues that the UK's rising NEET rate is not just a youth skills or health issue, but a geographical and economic one, with large differences between local areas...

This report from UK think tank HEPI sets out four potential scenarios for how the sector might resolve its financial challenges. English universities face ‘unstable hybrid’ future as funding model collapses faster than predicted, warns new report. English higher education is heading into a future nobody planned, according to a new paper from the Higher...

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...

This report from UK think tank examines careers provisions available to UK PhD students. A new report published by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) examines careers provisions available to UK PhD students. Supporting PhD students into a wide range of careers, both academic and non-academic will benefit the UK economy, in particular the research...

This report from UK think tank the Fabian Society analyses the drivers of the teacher workforce crisis and the impact that it has on pupils and public finances. Teaching is a fantastic vocation, which offers the opportunity to change lives. However, the education system is currently experiencing a retention crisis, with the number of teachers...

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...

This report from UK think tank HEPI explores the benefits and costs of international higher education students to the UK economy. International students who began higher education courses in the UK in 2024/25 are expected to generate a net economic benefit of £40.4 billion for the UK over the course of their studies, according to...

This report from UK think tank HEPI calls for a partnership accountability framework to protect students and standards. A new HEPI Policy Note by Vicki Stott, A partnership accountability framework for a more resilient higher education sector (HEPI Policy Note 73), warns that rapid growth in franchised and other partnership provision is colliding with financial...

Universities must find ways to cultivate a sense of belonging amongst students By Alexis Brown (HEPI) It’s no secret that students have had a rough time of it during the pandemic. Those who weren’t in university yet missed out on the standardised tests and schooling that would normally prepare them for higher education, and those...