Sutton Trust
[1] Since then, it has undertaken over 150 research studies [2] and funded a wide range of practical programmes for young people in early years, primary and secondary school, with the aim of increasing access to higher education and the professions.
[7] The trust's Sutton Scholars programme aims to support highly able low- and middle-income students in early secondary school.
The programme provides a multi-year course of enrichment activities for each student, with content delivered by four Universities: Cambridge, Nottingham, UCL and Warwick.
[8] The programme aims to foster talent at an early age, increasing the pool of students attending the trust's university summer schools.
[13] The week long summer schools are designed to give bright students from non-privileged homes an insight into life at a leading university.
The programme, which is free for students, includes a week-long trip to an Ivy League institution, four residential courses in London, intense mentoring throughout the application process, plus payment of examination fees.
In its first two years the programme has enabled 82 students to gain scholarships to American universities, including Harvard, Princeton, Yale, MIT and Dartmouth, accessing $20m of financial aid.
The programme provides information, advice and guidance to academically able students and staff members, in non-selective state schools with little history of progression to Oxford.
[27] The Sutton Trust is developing a comprehensive programmes model to enable young people from non-privileged backgrounds to enter the professions – including Law, Medicine, Banking, Insurance, accounting and consulting.
[34] The Sutton Trust produces research on education and social mobility that spans the early years, school, universities and access to the professions.
A 2005 report commissioned by the Sutton Trust revealed that the UK, alongside the United States, has the lowest level of social mobility of any developed country for which there is data.
Researchers from the London School of Economics found that one reason for this trend was that the expansion of higher education in the UK disproportionately benefited those from better-off backgrounds.
In 2014, the trust published a report highlighting the high proportion of Oxford and Cambridge undergraduates who come from a small cadre of elite 'feeder' [mostly fee-paying] schools.
The study found that over 35% of MPs, 51% of medics, 54% of leading journalists, 51% of senior bankers and 70% of high court judges attended private schools.
[74] The trust's 2014 literature review What Makes Great Teaching, by Dr Rob Coe of Durham University, highlighted the dos and don'ts of effective pedagogy.
[76] Another 2014 report, Sound Foundations, by Oxford University academics showed the importance of qualified early years staff working with disadvantaged young children.
[77] In 2011 the Sutton Trust was awarded a £135 million arm's length grant by the Government to establish a new initiative to boost the attainment of disadvantaged children.
[79] Designed to provide support to hard-to-reach families, through drop-in style provision based in a shopping centre in one of the most deprived parts of Oxford.
[80] In 2011 the Sutton Trust, with support from Greater London Tutors, piloted a project that offered private tuition in mathematics to 100-150 academically able Year 11 pupils from non-privileged homes who would not otherwise be able to afford it.
[81] Future First works to introduce alumni networks to state schools by bringing back former students to inspire, advise and guide current pupils.
[82] The Reach for Excellence programme has been running at the University of Leeds for a number of years and is funded by Lloyds TSB in partnership with the Sutton Trust.
As part of the programme, each student receives a package of guidance throughout their A-Levels including subject taster sessions, skills workshops, financial advice, e-mentoring and a residential summer school.
The trust has funded the university's The Subject Matters sessions for Year 11 students and teachers in target schools, which are designed to support and inform the decision making process.
