The Sutton Trust

🚨 Girls, and certain ethnic groups, perform strongly at school but underachieve in the labour market. Our new research shows how geography, gender, and ethnicity all impact opportunities for disadvantaged young people, with big variations across England ⬇️

@EduPolicyInst No young person’s future should be limited by their background. Closing the attainment gap must be a national priority ⬇️ suttontrust.com/our-research/c…

@EduPolicyInst The knock-on impacts of the attainment gap are severe, not only limiting young people’s future educational choices, but shutting doors on the opportunities they can access later in life.

🗨️ “Disadvantaged pupils were, on average, 19 months behind their classmates from better-off backgrounds by the time they got to Key Stage 4.“ New analysis reveals that the gap in outcomes between richer and poorer pupils households has widened. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Andy Burnham has pledged to create Number 10 North to spread power across Britain. But where exactly in the country were top government officials educated? Which regions do some of Britain's most influential people come from? New analysis, out tomorrow.

We featured lots of examples of people who have experienced accent bias in our report, Speaking Up. Read the testimonials 👇 suttontrust.com/our-research/s…

The UK's accent diversity should be celebrated, as a marker of our rich history and culture. But a long history of class-based social hierarchy has created a deep rooted hierarchy of accents, with biases and stereotypes leading to discrimination 👎

🗣️ "For many it’s a shift in confidence and self-belief that can change the trajectory of their future – and being part of that journey is a privilege." Great to see a member of @ucl access team speak about their work with us on our summer schools ⬇️ ucl.ac.uk/news/2026/jul/…

@UniversitiesUK @ucas_online Contextual admissions can be a vital tool in ensuring that talented young people from less advantaged backgrounds are able to access higher education and achieve their full potential. Read the guidance and our evidence review ⬇️ buff.ly/UF5sfRw

@UniversitiesUK @ucas_online This practice is critical as research shows that students from low-income backgrounds face a significant attainment gap. By the time they finish their GCSEs, these students are roughly 18 months behind their wealthier peers.

💬 “University isn't the right choice for everyone. But for those with the ability and ambition to go, we shouldn't let their background stand in the way.” Today, we have published joint guidance with @UniversitiesUK and @ucas_online for universities on contextual admissions.

Read our report on access to early education ⬇️ buff.ly/lFaG85D

Any meaningful policy to tackle the disadvantage gaps that continue to blight our country needs to start with universal early years education support.

We welcome the Education Secretary’s call for universal childcare access. Our research shows that just 20% of families earning under £20,000 are eligible for the expanded childcare offer. High-quality early education should be available to every child 🧵

Read the piece ⤵️ suttontrust.com/news-opinion/a…

A recent evaluation found the bursary is boosting students’ confidence, sector knowledge and professional skills. It’s also reaching those who need it most: 53% were eligible for FSM, 64% came from households earning under £25k, and 72% were first-generation students.

“Getting into university is just the start. Breaking into highly competitive careers without the connections, financial resources or industry knowledge that wealthier peers can rely on is another challenge entirely.” That’s why we launched the Career Skills Bursary with @Bloomberg 🚀