Apprenticeships are presented as one of the main answers to the NEET crisis. But the system currently reaches very few young people already outside education or work. Previous @suttontrust.bsky.social research found that just 2% of starting apprentices were previously NEET.

Government and business need a bigger shared ambition than getting through the next Budget. Unlocking Britain's hidden talent could be that ambition. It would give firms the people they need to grow, and give more young people a fair chance to get on. @suttontrust.bsky.social

Students from poorer backgrounds have the MOST to gain from going to Uni...but are the LEAST likely to get there. Graduate premium is 55% for kids from an FSM background, compared to 43% for others. But those same kids have a 20% pt lower chance of attending Uni. A gap that hasn't closed in 20yrs

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The Sutton Trust@suttontrust.bsky.social · 3d ago

🚨 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 🧵

Andy Burnham's government must engage companies as well as classrooms in order to get talented young people into work. Our CEO, @nickharrison73.bsky.social, on the relationship between government and business in @the-independent.com ⤵️ www.independent.co.uk/voices/brita...

The UK’s growth and opportunity problems are two sides of the same failure

In order to get talented young people into work Andy Burnham must engage companies as well as classrooms, says Sutton Trust CEO Nick Harrison

independent.co.uk

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.

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

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.

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.

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 -

Social Market Foundation@smfthinktank.bsky.social · last mo.

🚨 NEW RESEARCH ON FIRST JOBS🚨 A first job that builds confidence and readiness for more senior work is associated with 24% higher earnings by one's mid-30s. But the best first jobs go disproportionately to those who already have a head start 🧵

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

✍️ "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...

No 10 North could change who runs Britain

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

politicshome.com

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.

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:

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