iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Nick Harrison

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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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Adult English and maths provision has fallen dramatically in the last 7 years. Between 2016–17 and 2023–24 annual spending on adult English qualifications fell from £135m to £81m over the following five years. Maths spending fell from £155m to £97m. @FEWeek.bsky.social & @Learnworkuk.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Most areas of England have improved their A-level results since before the pandemic - but places which have dropped back are concentrated in the North, and particularly the North East.

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Reposted by Nick Harrison

Northern Powerhouse Partnership @np-partnership.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

The regional divide in A-level attainment is not going away. Our analysis featured in TES shows that 21 of the 33 local authority areas where the share of A/A* grades has fallen since 2019 are in the North.

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Reposted by Nick Harrison

Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

The NEET debate has understandably focused on getting young people into work - but there has been much less focus on what happens when they get there. Our new research, out today, finds that first jobs really matter, but that access to the best (with the highest earnings returns) remains unequal -

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

I suspect AI skills will rapidly start to become an entry requirement for many professional jobs. Article in @financialtimes.com Not surprising - but opens up the possibility of a new digital / AI divide. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

The type of first job young people get makes a massive difference to outcomes. Brilliant new research from @SMFthinktank.bsky.social supported by @PwC-uk.bsky.social Only 13 % in "accelerator roles" which led to £55k earnings by age 35 - compared to "low-mobility roles" which led to only £28k

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Half of managers surveyed by CMI had encountered young employees who struggled with punctuality or workplace communication. 4/10 found a mismatch between education & practical requirements of work. The report rightly does not blame young people. @the-Independent.com @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Internal exclusion may prevent a pupil being sent home and protect others learning. But its use has grown hugely in recent years. Arbor data reported by @theguardian.com show 13% of secondary pupils experienced internal exclusion in 2025–26, up from 5% three years ago. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Degree apprenticeships were meant to open professional careers to a wider group - but they're being monopolised by the middle classes. New Social Mobility Foundation research. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

One in 20 young people in England now report having no close friends. In 2014, it was one in 100. Heart breaking @IPPR.org research. It's not about kids being snowflakes - but the combo of pandemic, economic insecurity, and erosion of youth services, and digital media. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

AI may change the value of particular degrees and skills. It does not remove the wider advantages that university can provide. Article in @thetimes.com by points out that in an AI world, human skills you learn at university as well as networks and connections, may be MORE important in the future.

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

New @tesmagazine.bsky.social analysis finds substantial deprivation gaps in entries for several GCSE subjects. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

More than half a million additional children are now eligible for free school meals following the removal of the £7,400 household-income threshold - and extension of eligibility to all families on universal credit. This is a significant change that we campaigned for @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The quality of school meals matters! Both for nutrition and learning, and to teach kids good food habits. Today, the quality is too often too low - mainly because of cost constraints. Research from @BiteBack2030.bsky.social examined published secondary-school menus... @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Employers receive c.140 applications for every graduate vacancy, according to the Institute of Student Employers. Yet 47% of employers with vacancies told Universities UK that graduate-level positions were difficult to fill. What's going on? Interesting piece in the FT. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Enrichment builds confidence, skills and connections. The government’s entitlement is welcome, but @tesmagazine.bsky.social reports schools will receive no direct funding, with £132m routed through external orgs. Risks widening the gap between well-connected schools and the rest.

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Transport costs can shut young care leavers out of college, training or work. Extending free travel for care leavers across the North East is practical social-mobility policy to remove barriers and widen young people’s choices. Good to see this in my home region :-) @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

More teachers using AI, and half reporting it's saving time (typically 1-2 hrs a wk) - but that the extra time is being used for other tasks. But 7% are saving much more time, greater than 5 hrs a week -> which shows the possibility of AI @tesmagazine.bsky.social from @cerysturner.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

More concerning news on entry level jobs this morning: 36% of employers say they cut entry-level jobs in the past year; 48% of medium and 46% of large firms did so. We do need starter jobs for young people to get on the ladder. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Two results days. The same map. Last week, London and the South East led the country for top A-level grades. Today’s GCSE results show a very similar pattern: 28.6% of grades in London were at 7 or above, compared with 17.7% in the North East (which is where I grew up). @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Reposted by Nick Harrison

The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

✍️ "Britain does not lack talent outside London and the South East. Its institutions are failing to find, develop and promote enough of it." Our CEO, @nickharrison73.bsky.social, on the need for better routes into national power for those outside of London ⬇️ www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

politicshome.com

No 10 North could change who runs Britain

Privately educated Londoners still dominate decision-making. We now have a chance to reverse that trend.

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Agree with Michelle Ovens in this article - entrepreneurship can be an exciting career option for some young people. But - for those from low income backgrounds who can't fall back on family support / backing it can be really challenging to start a business. Need to fix this.

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Depressing headlines on jobs today - but if you look back 15 years it doesn't seem quite so bad overall. (Charts in this thread from the ONS) 🧵 Job vacancies down from post-pandemic recovery spike, but really back at the pre-pandemic peak. @suttontrust.bsky.social Vacancies chart:

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Some good news for young people looking for work over the summer. Number of summer jobs bounced back a bit from last year's lows. 👇 @suttontrust

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

On the face of it, this seems like a good idea. We know internships are a good route to getting young people into work. More of them, particularly for those who need help, encouragement, and a confidence boost might make a meaningful difference. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Care leavers often have no backup to rely on once they become adults. More help needed with transitions into work, or further study and higher education. And one reason why their university participation is very low today. We need to do better for these young people! In yesterdays @thetimes.com

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Talent is spread evenly across the country. Top A-level grades are not. This year, an A or A* was 42% more common in London than in the North East or East Midlands. In London, 32.7% were A or A*. In the North East, where I grew up, & in East Midlands, it was just 23.1%. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Significant growth in T-levels this year: Up from c12k toc20k. Education, Health, and Management the three biggest areas. Congrats to all students taking these :-) Yesterday wasn't just about A-levels! @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Cost pressures are driving more students to live at home. Not necessarily a bad choice. BUT - it's a problem if only the better off can afford to go away for Uni, and poorer students have their choices curtailed - particularly those in areas with few Uni's close by. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Reposted by Nick Harrison

FFT Education Datalab @fftedudatalab.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Almost 20,000 T-level results were awarded this year, an increase of 65% on last year. Education and early years was the most popular pathway followed by health, then management and adminstration. Read more: ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2026/08/a-le... #resultsday

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Reposted by Nick Harrison

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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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Are kids in London smarter than kids in the North East where I grew up? No, of course not - but again we see a stark divide in A-level results. In London, 32.7% of grades were A or A*. In the North East and East Midlands, just 23.1%: a gap of c.10 percentage points. suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The university access gap between England’s richest and poorest areas has barely moved in a decade. In 2017, entry rates were 38.8% in the least deprived areas and 17.2% in the most deprived: gap of 21.6 pts. In 2026, today's figures are 43.9% and 22%: gap of 21.9 pts. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The gulf in A-level results between school types remains vast. Almost half of grades in private schools were A* or A, compared with 43.4% in grammar schools and just 23% in comprehensives. The private-school rate was more than twice the comprehensive rate. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Unfortunately accent bias is alive and well. Good article in the @thetimes.com yesterday based on 93percentclub survey, showing the class barriers many students still face at university. Great to see our director of programmes Katy Hampshire extensively quoted too :-) @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

On the one hand, primary schools probably can identify children at risk of being NEET. However, as @daisychristo.bsky.social points out - their best action is to help kids who are struggling to catch up, and they don't need a layer of bureaucracy to help them do that. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Strong economic performance - as shown by the US - lifts the earnings of workers at all education levels. Demonstrates the importance of growth - which has been sadly lacking in the UK. Brilliant report from @jburnmurdoch.ft.com in the @Financialtimes.com last week. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Graduate premium has grown in most countries as numbers going to uni have increased. UK declining grad premium is unique, and likely linked to poor economic performance rather than "too many kids going to university". Brilliant report from @jburnmurdoch.ft.com in the @financialtimes.com last week

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Good piece from Matthew Syed in @thetimes.com yesterday. Points out that contrary to all the noise about DEI, in fact, the system still produces hugely skewed outcomes, with those from low income backgrounds massively underrepresented at the top of multiple professions... @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Pupils thrive when they are supported AND challenged with high expectations. Write up in @tesmagazine.bsky.social by @cerysturnerbsky.social of research by Nuffield, UCL and Lift schools. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Interesting idea, and probably worth trying, particularly if the requirements are focused on areas with weak jobs markets and/or NEETs. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Good piece in @thetimes.com on Gove education reforms. PISA scores in England held pretty constant / slight decline while other countries declined more so we went up the rankings. Pretty clear that reforms were good for results - but at what cost on disengagement. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Bad news on graduate jobs in the @financialtimes.com today - lowest number since Covid in 2020. Cost pressures and business uncertainty the main issue, although AI uncertainty may also be slowing down hiring. Summer jobs for young people at a 4 year low too. Not good. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

University Technical Colleges which educate around 20k per year might provide some learnings for the gov's proposed reforms. Some (not definitive) evidence that kids do slightly worse on GCSE English, but, post-16 destinations are strong, in particular apprenticeships. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Concerning latest stats on school absence. Absence has been slowly improving since Covid, but in this last year progress seems to have stalled. Particularly bad news for less advantaged kids who are more likely to be off and have their attainment suffer. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Strong new evidence from @theifs.bsky.social last week that children benefit when smartphone use is delayed. In schools where 20%+ of families pledged to delay smartphones until 14, mental-health needs fell 8.2% and psychiatric DLA claims fell 6% vs. schools with no delay @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Happiness of young people is at an all time low, particularly those in deprived areas. Useful report from @IPPR.org which gets behind the stats through interviews. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

More postgrad teachers qualifying in the latest data (c25k, vs. c.23k year before), but smaller % getting jobs in state schools (71% vs. 75% ). Good writeup on this in @tesmagazine.bsky.social by @cerysturner.bsky.social @suttontrust.bsky.social

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Nick Harrison @nickharrison73.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Worth looking at loan re-payments. However, more urgent to look at increasing the max maintenance loan, as the current doesn't cover basic living costs for students, and increasing eligibility thresholds as many low- to middle- income families can't get max loans today. @suttontrust.bsky.social

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