One of the country’s leading social mobility charities is urging schools to become more inclusive, and to review how they choose which pupils can attend their schools.
The Sutton Trust has launched a free hub of resources to help schools re-think their admissions proecdures amid concerns that high-performing schools are becoming increasingly socially segregated.
A report published by the organisation last month found that wealthier pupils were 50% more likely to get into an academically successful schools within a catchment area than children eligible for free school meals (FSM).
The Sutton Trust’s Fair School Admissions Hub is the culmination of three years’ work with schools to introduce fairer admissions practices.
Since 2023, 118 schools have joined the Fair School Admissions Pledge, which has now resulted in the framework setting out recommendations for how the government and school leaders can work together.
The Government must provide clear guidance and practical backing for schools, alongside the confidence that they can act without facing negative consequences
Ministers expressed their ambition to make schools more inclusive in the Schools White Paper and proposed SEND reforms, which are currently out for consultation.
One of the recommendations in the Trust’s package of support is to make children eligible for Pupil Premium a priority in admissions.
The hub also provides case studies, research summaries and podcast interviews from schools who participated in the Pledge, as well as modules to support school leaders conducting reviews of their policies.
Growing appetite for change
Charlotte O’Regan, Senior Schools Engagement Manager at the Sutton Trust said: “Inclusion within a curated intake is not true inclusion.
“The clear indications of direction of travel in the 2026 Schools White Paper are welcome, but our experiences over the last two and a half years have shown that a complex range of factors need to be addressed to make significant progress.
“There is now a mounting appetite for change and the Fair School Admissions Pledge has shown that when the right support is available, meaningful progress is possible.
“To make this happen, the Government must now provide clear guidance and practical backing for schools, alongside the confidence that they can act without facing negative consequences.”
Sharpening awareness of barriers
Gary Aldred, Schools Director for The Mead Educational Trust, said: “The Sutton Trust Fair Admissions Pledge prompted us to take a more rigorous and honest look at our policies and practices.
“It has sharpened our awareness of the barriers many families face in accessing high-quality education, including the enduring postcode lottery, and challenged us to respond more deliberately.
“The support from the project, alongside the practical tools provided, has enabled us to critically unpick our approach and take meaningful steps to ensure our admissions processes are as fair, transparent and inclusive as possible.”
The Sutton Trust will host a webinar introducing the Fair School Admissions Hub on June 9, which will explore the challenge and outline what school leaders can do to improve admissions and increase social diversity in their schools.
