The Sutton Trust

Sutton Trust response to Government announcement on maintenance grants - The Sutton Trust Maintenance grants will be re-introduced for disadvantaged students on priority courses.

💬 "We hope to see a further extension of grants to all students from low income backgrounds in the future."

This week, the Government announced the introduction of maintenance grants for students from low income households, on priority courses ⤵️

Access to early education is the first line of defence against inequality - The Sutton Trust Discussing the importance of improving access to early education and childcare.

💬 "Breaking the link between background and opportunity does not start at the school gate, it starts in the nursery doorway."

More on the crucial role that affordable, high-quality childcare plays in fighting inequality ⤵️

A change in the tide? Reflections from Labour conference 2025 - The Sutton Trust Our key takeaways from this year's Labour party conference and our two events.

We had our biggest presence ever at this week’s Labour Party’s annual conference – the second since they came to power in 2024.

Read about what we learned from attending the conference and hosting two panel events ⤵️

www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...

Celebrating our alumni – 2025 alumni awards - The Sutton Trust Who are the winners and runners-up of our 2025 alumni awards?

🥳 Our sixth annual alumni celebration took place last week!

It was a pleasure to see so many of our alumni together in one room, and our team were delighted to hear about the excellent work that they have been doing.

Learn about the award winners ⬇️

What was the most read in September? Congrats to @suttontrust.bsky.social HJS @thefabians.bsky.social @pbe.co.uk @instituteforgovernment.org.uk @uniofbathipr.bsky.social @re-state.bsky.social @niesrorg.bsky.social @resfoundation.bsky.social who all had reports feature in this month's top 10! 🎉

YouTube video by UK Covid-19 Inquiry UK Covid-19 Inquiry Live Stream

Our former Head of Research and Policy, @beckymontacute.bsky.social is currently giving evidence to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry 🔎

Tune in live to learn about the impact of the pandemic on children and young people 👇

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOYc...

🗨️ "It’s absolutely the right ambition to aim for greater parity between academic, technical and apprenticeship routes for young people."

Our response to Keir Starmer's speech at #LabourPartyConference in Liverpool ⤵️

www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...

🚨 Policy win on maintenance grants! 🚨

@bphillipsonmp.bsky.social has announced that the Government will introduce maintenance grants for students from low income households, on priority courses.

This is a very positive step in the right direction, but there's still further to go ⤵️

Closing the attainment gap - The Sutton Trust Our second General Election policy briefing focuses on the attainment gap.

As we take questions from the audience, catch up with the Sutton Trust's research and recommendations for closing the attainment gap here: www.suttontrust.com/our-research...

He goes on to say that children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are also more likely to have caring responsibilities.

Closing the attainment gap needs to be a national mission and we need to see clarity of strategy and purpose from the Government.

Finally, the Sutton Trust's Director of Research and Policy @carlcullinane.bsky.social looks into the numbers behind the attainment gap.

He talks about when SEND and socioeconomic disadvantage occur together, with families from lower income backgrounds less likely to get an EHCP and unlock support.

Severe school absence (when pupils miss at least 50% of school) has become an entrenched issue, affecting around 150,000 young people.

This is a priority for the @childrenscomm.bsky.social when visiting children, understanding how they are affected by poverty and how this drives the attainment gap.

@childrenscomm.bsky.social Dame Rachel de Souza talks about her journey and commitment to closing the attainment gap.

She says that progress began to stall from 2017 when investment in wider children's services decreased, an issue compounded by the COVID pandemic from 2020 onwards.

@danielkebedeneu.bsky.social also says that school funding is another fundamental issue, saying that the UK is spending its lowest proportion of GDP on education for 25 years.

This feeds into challenges with teacher recruitment and retention, as well as the quality of school buildings.

NEU General Secretary @danielkebedeneu.bsky.social highlights that key to addressing educational inequality is addressing child poverty.

While there have been welcome moves in expanding access to free school meals and capping the cost of school uniform, we need to recognise the scale of the issue.

The Labour Party's Opportunity Mission Champion @sarahsmithlab.bsky.social says that inclusion and high standards do not have to be at odds with each other.

If we support schools and school leaders to create a system that prioritises disadvantaged pupils, everyone benefits.

This morning at Labour Party Conference, our panel is looking at the attainment gap and asking why disadvantaged pupils are behind their peers.

Chaired by @nickharrison73.bsky.social, we are joined by @sarahsmithlab.bsky.social, @childrenscomm.bsky.social, and @danielkebedeneu.bsky.social

Elitist Britain 2025 - The Sutton Trust Landmark research on the educational backgrounds of Britain's most powerful people.

To find out more, check out our Elitist Britain 2025 report here: www.suttontrust.com/our-research...

Thank you to all of our panellists for joining us today, and to our Chair Ian Walsh

@upreach.bsky.social CEO Nick Bent asks why social mobility has been a neglected part of the inclusion agenda.

Panellists reflect on the current state of the UK labour market and the complexity of measuring class, and defining what 'working class' is.

Taking audience questions, @socialmobilityf.bsky.social CEO Sarah Atkinson highlights efforts to get employers to monitor race and disability pay gaps, and asks why this hasn't been extended to the class pay gap.

However, in a media ecosystem dominated by private school alumni, the focus is not on this but instead on private school VAT.

Lewis speak about his experience as a young Newsnight producer and says that the situation most likely hasn't changed in the years since, because of journalist's priorities.

Finally, @lewisgoodall.com reflects on today's announcement on the restoration of maintenance grants.

When they were abolished, the UK essentially baked inequality into its tax system, with poorer students having to take out larger student loans.

Former Labour Party Chair Lord Evans speaks about his experience in the House of Lords and the importance for decision makers to reflect the people they serve.

It's not just about getting more people through the door, but changing the shape of the door itself. Banning unpaid internships is key.

Chair of the Social Mobility APPG @peter4bracknell.bsky.social says tackling these inequalities is why he entered politics and that while talent can be found everywhere, opportunities are not.

He highlights outcomes for white working-class boys in particular and the need for place-based solutions.

Sutton Trust response to Government announcement on maintenance grants - The Sutton Trust Maintenance grants will be re-introduced for disadvantaged students on priority courses.

We've been calling for reintroduction of maintenance grants for the poorest students for many years, so this announcement is a very welcome one.

We hope to see a further extension of grants to all students from low income backgrounds in the future.

www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...

🚨 Policy win on maintenance grants! 🚨

@bphillipsonmp.bsky.social has announced that the Government will introduce maintenance grants for students from low income households, on priority courses.

This is a very positive step in the right direction, but there's still further to go ⤵️

UCL Professor of Economics @lindseymacmillan.bsky.social looks at why students from some backgrounds, with the same qualifications as their peers, are less represented in the UK's top professions.

They are applying to employers in equal numbers, but are screened out at every stage of recruitment.

The Trust' Director of of Research and Policy, @carlcullinane.bsky.social, begins by delving into some of the key findings.

Britain's most powerful people are 5 times more likely than the general public to have attended a private school.

We need to bring class into the national conversation.

Today we are at the Labour Party Conference to explore findings from the Sutton Trust's latest report, Elitist Britain.

We are joined by @lindseymacmillan.bsky.social, @peter4bracknell.bsky.social, @lewisgoodall.com, Lord David Evans, and our own @carlcullinane.bsky.social.

⬇️ Follow updates below