Schools urged to review admissions systems to address inequalities in access - Sutton Trust
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Wealthier pupils are 50% more likely to access top schools in a
catchment area than those eligible for FSM Sutton Trust launches
new Fair School Admissions Hub to support schools to widen access
The Sutton Trust has today launched a free ‘hub' of resources to
support schools in reviewing their admissions policies, in response
to growing evidence of social segregation in high performing state
schools, and of teachers' lack of awareness of the issue....Request free trial
The Sutton Trust has today launched a free ‘hub' of resources to support schools in reviewing their admissions policies, in response to growing evidence of social segregation in high performing state schools, and of teachers' lack of awareness of the issue. The recent Schools White Paper sent a clear directive that schools should become more inclusive and set a target to halve the disadvantage gap by 2035. However, Sutton Trust data shows that wealthier pupils are 50% more likely to access top performing schools than those eligible for Free School Meals, even if they live in the catchment area. A new policy report, Admissions Not Impossible, explores the current evidence that top-performing state secondary comprehensive schools admit fewer pupils eligible for Free School Meals than live in their local communities. It uses the experience of working with schools, Multi Academy Trusts and local authorities through the Sutton Trust's Fair School Admissions Pledge, to offer a new framework for schools and policy makers to address this issue. Polling of school staff in 2025 by Teacher Tapp for the Sutton Trust found that school staff's awareness of income-based segregation in the intake of non-selective state schools has remained limited, with only 34% agreeing that there is a problem. And it is lowest in the schools with the fewest pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. Many school staff believe that the housing market is in part to blame, with over three quarters saying that where families can afford to live is the main contributing factor. However, the reality is more complicated. New data analysis shows that two thirds of the gap in FSM levels between the highest attaining schools and the average school is attributable to social selectivity within catchment, and just a third to the location of such schools in better-off areas. A student from a most affluent neighbourhood is almost twice as likely (86%) to attend a high attaining school compared to those from a least affluent neighbourhood, even within the same catchment area. School staff also cite accountability pressures as one of the main reasons for social segregation. 30% of school staff in the most disadvantaged schools thought league table concerns contributed to popular schools not taking their fair share of disadvantaged pupils, compared to only 21% in the least disadvantaged schools, with a similar pattern for Ofsted ratings. And those who also have special educational needs and disabilities face additional barriers. Previously published research by the Sutton Trust revealed that the top 500 secondary schools are effectively shutting out local disadvantaged pupils with SEND. In the absence of national policy change, the Sutton Trust began working directly with schools to introduce fairer admissions practices in August 2023. Since then, 118 schools have joined the Fair School Admissions Pledge. The Sutton Trust has now developed a Fair School Admissions framework, drawn from this evidence and practical experience, which sets out recommendations for how government and school leaders can work collaboratively to make admissions more inclusive. The Sutton Trust believes that the use of Pupil Premium priority in admissions has significant potential to reshape the admissions landscape. Through its Fair Schools Admissions project, the Trust has seen 22 schools introduce a Pupil Premium priority, an increase of over 50% in the number of secondary schools doing so nationwide, with the Hub now making these materials available to thousands more schools. The Framework also provides guidance for schools on how factors such as the cost of attending school and access to clear information can contribute to improving access. Polling shows that these are more likely to be considered in the most deprived schools. 57% of school leaders at the most deprived schools reported considering school costs (uniform, transport, equipment and extra-curriculars and enrichment opportunities), compared to 46% in the least deprived schools. There were also stark differences between schools ensuring that all communications on FSM support, behaviour and SEND strategies were written in simple language, with 41% of the most deprived schools taking this approach, compared to 26% of the most affluent schools. The School Admissions Pledge has demonstrated that there is appetite from school leaders for change in admissions. As such, the Sutton Trust has developed and launched the Fair School Admissions Hub to broaden access to the support school leaders need to make changes to admissions. As time constraints and budget cuts weigh heavily on school leaders, the Hub offers a one stop showcase, including research summaries, case studies and podcast interviews of schools from the Pledge. School leaders can also access an online CPD module to support them in completing a Fair Access Review to understand whether their admissions are fair and what changes they can make, while the School Admissions Dashboard allows leaders to see how their school compares to others in their local area. When looking at making changes, the School Admissions Simulator allows school leaders to input the details and demographics of their applicant pool and experiment with different approaches to implementing Pupil Premium priority to visualise the impact that this could have on their intake. On Tuesday 9th June, the Sutton Trust will host a webinar introducing the Fair School Admissions Hub, as well as exploring the challenge and outlining what school leaders can do to improve admissions and increase social diversity in their schools. Commenting, 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.” Commenting, Gary Aldred, Schools Director for The Mead Educational Trust said: “The Sutton Trust Fair Admissions Award has 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.” Commenting, Simon Lindall, Assistant Principal at Saracens High School said: "The Sutton Trust Admissions Hub aligns perfectly with our core values of Discipline, Hard Work, Honesty, and Humility. We believe that living these values is what truly makes a person of positive character and successful in life. By taking this pledge, we are ensuring that we remain supportive of education for all, making a positive difference to our school community by improving lives and giving the best possible experience to those who need it most." Ends Notes to editors:
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