New Research | Sector Developments | Social Mobility Day | Opinion | Opportunities
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Dear readers,
May was a busy month at the Sutton Trust.
Building on last year's Opportunity Index, we published some major new research this month, Crossing Paths, which revealed how geography, gender and ethnicity all impact opportunities for disadvantaged young people, showing stark variation in access to opportunity across England.
Social Mobility Day is a valuable opportunity to celebrate progress and press for further action from Government and employers. Ahead of the day, we attended a Social Mobility Alliance event in Parliament, and our team participated in several events with partners including Microsoft and the Northern Trust Company. Our Alumni Leadership Board member Molly also wrote a guest blog for us on her experience of feeling boxed in by her background.
We also continued the discussion on our recent Room to Grow research on school-based nurseries with a panel event, jointly hosted with the Social Market Foundation.
Alongside this, we published a range of insightful opinion pieces this month, from alumni stories to blogs unpacking our latest research findings.
Read on for more.
With my best wishes,
Tracey Tynan,
Director of Communications and Advocacy at the Sutton Trust
In this month's newsletter, find updates on:
- Our newest research
- Sector developments
- Social Mobility Day
- Room to Grow Panel Event
- Opinion
- Opportunities
New research: How does gender, ethnicity and place shape opportunity?
Crossing Paths
Our latest report explores how geography, gender, and ethnicity shape opportunities for disadvantaged young people across England.
It reveals stark inequalities in both attainment and earnings. For example, a Bangladeshi girl on free school meals in the North West achieves almost twice the GCSE attainment of a White British boy in the South East, yet goes on to earn around £5,500 less by age 28.
The research also takes a close look at outcomes for white working-class pupils by constituency across the country, from educational attainment to employment outcomes.
White Working-Class Map
Our interactive map focuses on white working-class pupils. These pupils have the lowest attainment of any group and they are far behind their peers at GCSEs, wherever they live in England
This map allows us to look beyond attainment and earnings to understand how geographical inequalities manifest from GCSEs to A-levels, to higher education and employment. It shows how access to opportunity varies dramatically depending on where white working-class young people grow up.
Interactive Data Story
This interactive shows how attainment, earnings, and social mobility vary by ethnicity, gender, and region.
It highlights that, unfortunately, doing well at school doesn’t always lead to strong earnings, particularly for ethnic minority groups and women.
Our response to the new IFS report on the impact of degrees on earnings
Responding to the IFS report on the impact of undergraduate degrees on lifetime earnings, Nick Harrison, CEO of the Sutton Trust, said:
‘While university is not a guarantee of financial success, it remains the most reliable route to upward mobility we have. Most graduates continue to see big financial benefits over their lifetimes, and for young people from lower-income backgrounds those gains are often greatest.
‘But the value of university goes well beyond earnings. University can be a life-changing experience, helping young people build social networks, life skills, and dreams and aspirations for the future. We’ve also found that graduates report higher wellbeing and happiness than non-graduates, regardless of background or career destination.
‘At the same time, this report raises an uncomfortable question. If we are telling young people not to go to university, what exactly are we telling them to do instead? There is no shortage of criticism of so-called low-value degrees, but there is a chronic shortage of high-quality alternatives. Apprenticeships and technical pathways can offer great prospects for progression and success, but there are simply not enough of them available to be a viable alternative for lots of young people.’
Image photo credits: IFS Website
Marking this year's Social Mobility Day!
Attending the Social Mobility Alliance Event
We joined our partners in the Social Mobility Alliance at the House of Commons, bringing together MPs, employers, and young people to push for real change on social mobility!
It was a fantastic event, with young people (including the Co-Chair of our Alumni Leadership Board, Warrick) sharing their experiences with decision-makers. Together, we made the case for action on better routes into employment, increased opportunities in education, and building diverse workforces.
Our Alumni Leadership Board member, Molly Cartwright, penned a candid piece discussing some of the decisions she’s made throughout her social mobility journey and her feelings of being boxed in by her background.
Writing on Social Mobility Day, she emphasises the need to broaden our ideas of social mobility so that it encompasses opportunity and representation across a range of careers and professions, beyond those that are traditionally seen as desirable.
Our Room to Grow Panel Event
Thanks to everyone who joined us at our panel event to discuss our recent report with the Social Market Foundation, Room to Grow.
The event featured a fantastic discussion around school-based nurseries, including the origins of the policy, access issues for lower-income families, the future of the school-based nurseries policy, and challenges for the early years workforce.
Thank you to our speakers and to Nuffield Foundation for generously supporting the research and the event.
Opinion
Unlocking opportunities: Why social mobility matters to me
Karolina Tomaite is a Trainee Solicitor at Mishcon de Reya LLP. To mark National Volunteers Week, she discusses her own social mobility journey and why she volunteers her time to work with the Sutton Trust.
Get to know the Sutton Trust Alumni Leadership Board
Our Alumni Leadership Board represents our fantastic community, supports our programmatic work, and helps make sure the Trust’s work is centered on what’s best for young people. This year’s Co-Chairs, Ridhka Kakkar and Warrick Scaife, celebrate what the Board has achieved so far this year!
Class must play a more prominent role in the diversity and inclusion conversation
Our report, Crossing Paths, looks at how educational outcomes and earnings are connected to place, gender, and ethnicity. In this piece, our Director of Research and Policy, Carl Cullinane, emphasises the need to recognise and tackle the various barriers and problems that impact all young people across this country, no matter their background.
Degrees still matter – the system around them needs fixing
Our Head of University Access & Digital, Jon Datta, weighs up the value of a university degree. In this piece, he discusses the many benefits of higher education beyond accessing a higher paid job while recognising the differing conditions and factors that shape graduates outcomes for each individual.
Interested in submitting a blog? Reach out to us.
Applications are still open to apply for our Sutton Trust Online (STO) Programme
STO is free and open to students in Year 12 (Eng & Wales), Year 13 (Northern Ireland), S5 or the first three weeks of S6 (Scotland) attending state schools and colleges.
STO provides access to a wide range of resources and support to help young people explore their post-18 options, build strong university or apprenticeship applications, and prepare to succeed in higher education and beyond.
