Labour Party Conference Events | Sector Developments | Programmes Are Open | Opinion
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September has been a busy one for education and social mobility, with party conference season underway and several important developments happening across the sector.
At this year's Labour Party Conference, we were delighted to host two panel events discussing education inequality across the UK and how we can expand apprenticeship opportunities for young people. Thank you to all who contributed!
This month also saw the government announce plans for a new unit focused on socio-economic disadvantage, alongside the closure of the Social Mobility Commission. We hope that these changes will help maintain momentum and inspire further action to improve opportunities for young people.
Elsewhere, the 2025 PISA results have been released, with England bucking the global trend in maths and reading and continuing to improve its performance in science. There are, however, continued concerns around teacher shortages and how this will affect teaching nationally.
We’re also delighted to announce that applications are now open for Pathways to the Professions and Access Apprenticeships! These programmes help young people explore career pathways, develop key skills, and gain valuable insight into competitive professions.
Finally, we are pleased to welcome our 20 new Sutton Trust Regional Ambassadors! They'll play an important role in shaping our agenda-setting research and helping widen access to our programmes through their local networks.
Read on for more!
In Septembers newsletter, find updates on:
- Labour Party Conference Events
- Our responses to plans for a new government unit focused on social class and the 2025 PISA results
- Pathways and Access Apprenticeships
- Regional Ambassadors
- Opinion
Labour Conference 2026: Panel events
At this year's Labour Party Conference we hosted two fantastic panel events discussing education inequality across the UK and how we can boost apprenticeship opportunity for young people.
The first event on educational inequality heard from journalist Lewis Goodall, Schools Minister Georgia Gould MP, Helena Dollimore MP, and Professor Lindsey Macmillan, with our Director of Research and Policy Carl Cullinane as chair.
Our panellists discussed the role devolution, Mission Coastal and Mission North East can play in addressing education inequality across the UK.
Our second panel event on apprenticeships featured Skills Minister Jacqui Smith, Siemens UK and Ireland CEO Brian Holliday, our alum and Data Science Degree Apprentice Millie Court, and our Head of Research and Policy Billy Huband-Thompson.
Chaired by our CEO Nick Harrison, the event highlighted the importance of the apprenticeships and how they can help create high-quality pathways into good careers for young people from all backgrounds.
Thank you to all our panellists and attendees for two incredibly engaging discussions!
Response: Plans for a new government unit focused on social class
Earlier this month, the government announced a New Class Unit in the Office for Equality and Opportunity alongside the closure of the Social Mobility Commission.
This new unit will focus on improving the lives of low-income families, disadvantaged communities and tackling child poverty.
Our research has shown that geography, gender and ethnicity all impact opportunities for disadvantaged young people.
We hope that this approach will allow government to work effectively across departments to make tangible changes to policy on socio-economic disadvantage.
Response: PISA 2025 Results
The 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results have been released, covering 760,000 students across 91 countries.
It’s encouraging to see that England has bucked the global downward trend in maths and reading skills, while it’s improved overall in science. Some progress has also been made in closing the attainment gap between the most and least disadvantaged pupils in science since 2022.
However, it’s concerning to see that 48% of UK students were in schools whose leaders think learning was hindered by a lack of teaching staff.
This mirrors our polling which shows that schools are having to make severe staffing cuts due to financial pressures.
Programmes are open: Apply now
Applications are open for two of our programmes helping young people explore future careers and gain valuable experience: Pathways to the Professions and Access Apprenticeships.
Pathways to the Professions is open to students in Year 12 in England and Wales, S5 in Scotland, or Year 13 in Northern Ireland.
These programmes offer work experience with high-profile organisations, support to get work-ready and, where applicable, a free residential at a leading university. Subjects include Veterinary Medicine, Law, Engineering, Banking and Finance, and Medicine.
- Applications close: Between 19 October and 2 November.
Access Apprenticeships is available to Year 12 or equivalent students in Manchester and London.
It offers exclusive work experience, visits to apprenticeship providers, opportunities to meet local aspiring apprentices and support to explore whether an apprenticeship is the right route.
- Applications close: 2 November.
Our new Regional Ambassadors
We've developed an exciting new scheme to ensure our programmes reach the young people who need them the most!
Our new ambassadors share our passion for social mobility and breaking down barriers for disadvantaged young people.
As school leaders, they understand first-hand the challenges of closing the attainment gap and supporting progression into higher education. Their on-the-ground insight will feed directly into our agenda-setting research, while their local networks will help widen access to our life-changing programmes.
Opinion
Two practical ways the Sutton Trust can support school leaders with attainment and post-18 progression this September
Supporting school leaders with attainment and post-18 progression.
Summer Schools 2026: seeing potential come to life
As this year’s cohort begin their first weeks at university, our Director of Programmes, Katy Hampshire, reflects on the last few months she spent visiting Sutton Trust Summer Schools up and down the country.
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