This report from UK think tank the Sutton Trust explores the educational backgrounds of leading figures across many sectors. The six years since Elitist Britain 2019 have been a time of political and social turbulence at home and abroad, including wars, a pandemic, a cost of living crisis, and five prime ministers. Racial diversity and...

This report from UK think tank HEPI argues the UK universities must be recognised as central pillars of national security and resilience. The Wartime University: The role of Higher Education in Civil Readiness by Gary Fisher argues UK universities must be recognised as central pillars of national security and resilience. The paper highlights how higher...

This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation discusses how generative artificial intelligence could pose a risk to educational standards. The government has recently issued guidance to schools on the use of AI, but it pays too little attention to the effect of GenAI tools on learning (as opposed to performance). This paper...

This report from UK think tank PBE examines the economic benefits of mentoring LGBTQ+ young people. There is still limited understanding of what works, and what does not, when supporting LGBTQ+ young people’s mental health. While the problem is increasingly acknowledged, the evidence base around effective interventions remains limited. Our report builds the evidence on...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Government examines the performance gaps in schools. The 2010s saw educational attainment increase, and disparities narrow, across England’s schools – but this progress was brought to a shuddering halt when Covid hit. Since 2019, educational inequalities have again grown wider and more pronounced, both across the...

This report from UK think tank PBE provides new evidence of the long-term economic benefits of investing early in children’s mental health. Wellbeing boosts life chances. When children feel mentally well, they do better at school, build stronger relationships and reach their life-long potential. This report provides new evidence and analysis of the long-term economic...

This report from UK think tank HEPI assesses the benefits of learning a language and the current state of play in schools and universities. In this report, Megan Bowler from the University of Oxford considers the benefits that learning a language provides and assesses the current state of play in schools and universities. She ends...

This report from UK think tank PolicyWISE proactively engages the public in actions to boost health and wellbeing for the short and longer term. Take Five to Age Well (Take Five) policy brief is aimed at policy makers from all four nations. This is a public health campaign and research project that proactively engages the...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Policy Research presents evidence from the raising of the participation age (RPA) in England. Implemented ten years ago in England, the Raising of the Participation Age (RPA) placed a duty on young people to remain in learning (although not confined to staying on at school) until...

This report from UK think tank HEPI explores the hidden impact of menstruation in higher education. The impact of menstrual cycles and periods on education is under researched. This new HEPI report aims to understand students’ experiences of menstruation education and the day-to day impact of menstrual cycles and periods on students’ higher education studies....

This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation sets out the challenges faced when delivering higher skills provision. The Government is ambitious to improve economic growth, but in an area that will be key for that to succeed – skills training – their approach has been muddled. This report sets out the challenges...

This report from UK think tank the Sutton Trust explores how AI is being used in schools today. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to bring about transformative change in practically every sector, including in the education system. In schools, we are just starting to see its impact, with AI tools already saving teachers time...

This report from UK think tank the Centre for Social Justice sets out the case for reforming the Pupil Premium. Since its introduction in 2011, over £27 billion has been allocated to mainstream schools across England through the Pupil Premium (PP) – a policy designed to raise attainment for disadvantaged pupils through targeted funding. Yet...

This report from UK think tank the Centre for Social Justice examines the crisis of bad behaviour disrupting classrooms. There is a crisis of bad behaviour disrupting classrooms. The latest government data reveals a shocking 21 per cent increase in suspensions and 16 per cent increase in permanent exclusions. Government and schools have an important...

This report from UK think tank the Sutton Trust focuses on what England can learn from apprenticeships systems worldwide to deliver more effectively for young people. In England, more than three quarters of a million 16- to 24-year-olds are not in education, training or work (NEET), with poorer young people most at risk of this...