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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 8h

Support from tutors and academic advisors was essential in shaping their overall university experience. Some gave examples of supervisors failing to meet regularly with them, which negatively impacted their studies 👎

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 8h

First-generation disadvantaged students also felt they were starting behind peers with stronger networks in the hunt for jobs. Course support from universities was well received, but some felt that it could have come earlier in the undergraduate process.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 8h

When asked how their experience differed to wealthier students, participants thought more affluent students took many things more for granted ⬇️

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 8h

When universities reached out proactively with transparent advice about financial support, it made a big difference 👏 Many said that if universities didn’t proactively reach out, they wouldn’t have found it themselves.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 8h

Financial and social difficulties were common challenges mentioned by low-income students 💳️ Some spoke of being forced to live at home due to cost of living, which more students are now doing. This can severely limit the options and opportunities available to them.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 8h

📣 Today, we published a best practice guide on how universities can better support disadvantaged students. As part of this work, we spoke directly to students from low-income backgrounds. They discussed different challenges they’ve faced, including ones with academic staff ⬇️

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 21h

💬 “Universities are working hard despite financial pressures, but doing more of the same is no longer enough.” Read our best practice guide for universities ⬇️ www.suttontrust.com/our-research...

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 21h

Universities are engines of social mobility. But they must do more to help disadvantaged students. This could be done via clearer contextual admissions, more timely financial support, teaching that recognises work and caring commitments, and stronger routes into employment.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 21h

Our guide provides details on what universities can do to support disadvantaged students. It offers evidence-based, practical steps to addressing unequal access, experience, and outcomes for students from low-income backgrounds.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 21h

Despite rising numbers of students attending university overall, disadvantaged students are still missing out. Wide gaps in access to university haven't changed in two decades. And less than 5% of FSM students go to elite ‘high tariff’ institutions, where the rewards are greatest.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 21h

🚨 NEW: Poorer students have the most to gain from university, but they’re the least likely to go. Our brand-new best practice guide argues universities should redouble efforts to support disadvantaged students 🧵

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Social mobility in this country has been low for a long time. Universities can help change that, but how? What can they do differently to recruit and support more disadvantaged students? Our best practice guide provides details on how they can do that. Out tomorrow.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

It highlighted the importance of apprenticeships and how they can help create pathways into good careers for young people from all backgrounds.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Our second panel event on apprenticeships featured Skills Minister Jacqui Smith, Siemans UK and Ireland CEO Brian Holliday, Sutton Trust alum Millie Court, Sutton Trust Head of Research and Policy, Billy Huband-Thompson, and @nickharrison73.bsky.social.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The first on educational inequality heard from @lewisgoodall.com @georgiagould.bsky.social Helena Dollimore MP @lindseymacmillan.bsky.social @carlcullinane.bsky.social. Our panellists discussed the role devolution, Mission Coastal and Mission North East can play in addressing education inequality.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

📢 At this year's Labour Party Conference we hosted two fantastic panel events, one on education inequality across the UK and one on boosting apprenticeship opportunities for young people. Thank you to all panellists and attendees for two engaging and varied discussions 🧵⤵️

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

On Tuesday, we'll hold our second event, focusing on apprenticeships. We'll be joined by Skills Minister Jacqui Smith, Siemans UK and Ireland CEO Brian Holliday, Sutton Trust alum Millie Court, Sutton Trust Head of Research and Policy, Billy Huband-Thompson, and @nickharrison73.bsky.social.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

We've got some fantastic speakers for our panel events at Labour Party Conference in Liverpool 👏 Tomorrow, for our first event on educational inequality, we'll be joined by @lewisgoodall.com @georgiagould.bsky.social Helena Dollimore MP @lindseymacmillan.bsky.social and @carlcullinane.bsky.social⬇️

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

🗨️ "Overall, we welcome the bolstering of technical and vocational routes...But the new routes must widen access to quality subject options, rather than introducing class divides at 14." The Government has announced new reforms to the education system in England ⤵️

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

🚨 Labour Party Conference 🚨 Join us at Labour Party Conference for two exciting events! We'll be discussing education inequality across the UK and how we can boost apprenticeship opportunity for young people ⬇️

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Calling all teachers and advisers! Don't miss our free webinar - UCAS 101 - on 23 September at 4pm. Register on our website ⬇️ www.suttontrust.com/our-programm...

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

📣 Announcing the Sutton Trust Regional Ambassadors! We've developed an exciting new scheme to ensure our programmes reach the young people who need them most. Our ambassadors share our passion for social mobility and breaking down barriers for disadvantaged young people ⬇️

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

How do disadvantaged pupils' outcomes differ by ethnicity and gender? 📊 As part of our research into how class, ethnicity, gender and place shape opportunity, we compared the school attainment of different groups of pupils on free school meals (FSM) ⬇️

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

🎉 As we kick off the new academic year, we’re excited to share that our completely FREE employability programmes are now open for applications! Students can find out more and apply via ⬇️ www.suttontrust.com/our-programm...

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

🚨 Girls, and certain ethnic groups, perform strongly at school but underachieve in the labour market. Our research shows how geography, gender, and ethnicity shape opportunities for disadvantaged young people across England ⤵️ www.suttontrust.com/our-research...

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

🚨 Wide disparities in GCSE attainment by region 🚨 Our analysis of GCSE results reveals more about the differences in the proportion of pupils achieving both pass grades and top grades, with London outperforming the rest of the country ⬇️ www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

🚨 Fewer 17-year-olds resitting English and maths were able to secure a grade 4 this year. Our analysis of today's GCSE results found that only 21% of those resitting English and just 16.4% of those resitting maths achieved a pass. www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

💬 “Pupils receiving their results should have every reason to be proud of their achievements today. However, it’s very concerning that so many pupils are struggling to achieve passes in English and maths resits.” Our full analysis of today's GCSE results ⬇️ www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

RESITS 📚 Fewer 17-year-olds resitting English and maths were able to secure a grade 4 this year. 21% of those resitting English achieved a grade 4, and this was even worse for maths (16.4%). With over 1million young people already classified as NEET, this is deeply concerning.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

SCHOOL TYPE 🏫 Looking at top grades, grammar schools continue to pull ahead, at 63.2%. The gap between private and state comprehensive pupils getting top grades (7/A) is also wide, at 27pp. At grade 4/C, this gap is 19.8pp (68.6% state comp and 88.4% private).

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

GRADES 📖 Overall, results in the UK this year are stable. 22% of pupils achieved a 7/A and above, up marginally from 21.9% in 2025. 67.3% passed at 4/C and above, down slightly from 67.4% last year.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

🚨 NEW: There’s been no progress in addressing regional imbalances in GCSE attainment, with the gap between London and the rest of the country continuing to grow. Our analysis of today’s results finds that regional gaps in both top grades and passes are largely unchanged 🧵⬇️

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

🚨 Wide gaps in top A-Level grades between school types 🚨 Our analysis of today's results finds that privately educated pupils twice as likely to achieve an A or A star as those from state comprehensives ⤵️ www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

💬 “A young person’s chances shouldn’t depend so heavily on where they go to school.” @nickharrison73.bsky.social Our analysis of today's Level 3 results shows a big gap in top grades between London and other regions in England, with London far ahead. www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

💬 “A young person’s chances shouldn’t depend so heavily on where they go to school.” @nickharrison73.bsky.social Read our full analysis of the data ⬇️ www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The proportion of accepted applicants planning to live at home during their studies has continued to rise since 2022. This can limit the options available to young people, particularly those living outside London and other big cities.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The gap in the entry rate to university between the most and least deprived areas remains wide. However, it has narrowed slightly this year to 21.9% from 22.5% in 2025 📉 This compares to 22.3% in 2024 and 20.7% pre-pandemic in 2019.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

There has also been an increase in the number of students receiving a T Level Technical Qualification. This has risen by around two thirds in just one year – from 11,920 in 2025 to 19,860 this year. It’s good to see expanding access to high-quality vocational qualifications for young people.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

There has been little change in the differences in top grades by school type 📊 48.6% of independent school pupils received grades at A and above this year, compared to 43.4% at grammar schools, and 23% at secondary.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Overall, 28.3% of pupils in England achieved A grades or above, with little change from last year (28.2%). The rate has crept up gradually in the last four years, with this year being the highest since 2022 (27.2%).

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

🚨 NEW: London continues to pull ahead of other regions in top grades. Our analysis of today’s Level 3 results shows that 32.7% of pupils in the capital received grades at A or above, up from 31.9% last year. This is the largest increase of any region, with the London gap continuing to widen 🧵

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

We're on TikTok! 📲 Follow us for breakdowns of our research and policy work, our reactions to news stories, exclusive insights into our programmes, spotlights on our alumni community, and much more. www.tiktok.com/@sutton_trus...

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Happy results day to all of our Scottish students 🎉 We wanted to share a nice message from one of our brilliant Alumni Leadership Board Members, Bethany Spain, who comes from Clackmannanshire.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

🎺 We're delighted to announce that Avnee Morjaria has joined our Board of Trustees! Avnee is Associate Director for public services at @ippr.org, leading teams focused on education, childcare, health, and social care.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

It’s fantastic for our alumni to get the chance to directly experience and learn about what career pathways could be available to them in the industry. A huge thank you to everyone in the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team 👏

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

The day included exclusive Q&As with Team Principal Toto Wolff and Technical Director James Allison, behind-the-scenes access and immersive garage tour, and the chance to watch Free Practice 1 live from the Mercedes viewing gallery.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Last month our amazing partner Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team hosted two of our alumni at the British Grand Prix 🏎️ As one of the team’s long-standing Social Impact partners, students and representatives from the Sutton Trust were invited to spend the day at Silverstone.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

🔎 Andy Burnham's cabinet is the most Oxbridge-educated cabinet since David Cameron's cabinet in 2010. The new Prime Minister recently appointed his cabinet. We found that over half (54%) of ministers appointed went to Oxford or Cambridge for university.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

🗣️ "Hearing voices that sound like theirs in Parliament and in positions of leadership sends a powerful message. It tells them that they do not have to change who they are to succeed." @sureenawne.bsky.social spoke in a recent debate in Parliament on regional accents and social mobility.

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The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

But looking at university backgrounds more widely, two elite universities remain heavily overrepresented. 55% of Burnham’s cabinet went to either Oxford or Cambridge for university, up substantially from 38% in Starmer’s first cabinet.

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