Pupils lack support with next steps after school, poll finds

This A-level results day, as hundreds of thousands of students find out their grades and plan their next steps, UK charity The Social Mobility Foundation is calling on the government to improve access to opportunities and make sure that all young people are supported not only to succeed, but to make informed choices about their futures. 

In newly-released polling, less than half (48%) of young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds felt they had adequate resources or support at school or college to do their best. This was significantly lower than for those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds (56%). 

Information about next steps is also limited for many students. Of those who were currently at school or college, just 1 in 8 (12%) said they had received advice about going straight into work. Only 1 in 4 (25%) said they had done in-person work experience, and only 1 in 3 (32%) said they had been given advice about apprenticeships. 

When asked about the barriers they experienced during secondary school and sixth form, over 1 in 5 (22%) from lower socioeconomic backgrounds said they had inadequate access to a quiet study space at home or at school. Around 1 in 10 (9%) from lower socioeconomic backgrounds said that inadequate access to the internet at home was a barrier. This was almost double the figure for those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds (5%). 

These findings come shortly after new analysis from the Education Policy Institute found that the attainment gap between students from low-income backgrounds and their peers has widened. By the end of secondary school, pupils from low-income backgrounds were 19.2 months of learning behind their peers – over a year and a half – which is the widest gap in attainment since 2012. 

The gap in opportunities persists beyond school and into university. The rising cost of living means that for most students the cost of essentials is now higher than the amount they can access in loans. The vast majority of university students of all backgrounds say they are worried about money (71%) and the cost of living (73%) – a higher proportion than say they are worried about keeping up with their studies (67%). 

Over half (52%) of prospective students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds said they were more likely to apply to a university closer to home, significantly more than from the higher socioeconomic group (43%). Less well-off students were also more likely to worry about student debt and keeping up with their studies. 

Sarah Atkinson, Chief Executive, Social Mobility Foundation, said: 

“Clearly, the government must prioritise closing the widening attainment gap between pupils from lower-income backgrounds and their peers. But not only are poorer students being held back in education, they're not getting the guidance they need on their next steps. Whether it's doing an apprenticeship, going straight into work or studying for a degree, young people must be given clear information on the options available to them in every school, right across the UK. 

For those who do go on to higher education, we know that students are struggling to afford the essentials, with many having to live at home or earn while they learn. Universities need to ensure that their courses are flexible so that students can study in a way that suits their needs and flourish regardless of their background.” 

Milly, age 18 from Southport, said: 

“Having caring responsibilities significantly influenced my decisions about higher education, especially when accompanied by the cost-of-living crisis. The distance I can travel is restricted, the amount of money I can spend on accommodation is restricted and I was led to believe the type of university I was capable of attending was restricted. 

I believe better information provision in school and college would have prevented this barrier. But despite these odds, I feel I can still be successful and hopefully I'll see this on results day.” 

Earlgi, age 19 from Bexleyheath, London, said: 

“I'm hoping to achieve A-level grades that will grant me the opportunity to pursue a legal career.   

During A-levels I struggled with finding a quiet space to study, meaning I had to spend loads of time late at night searching for cafes or restaurants as many libraries close at 4pm, which is when school ends. 

I think a lot more should be done in terms of advice on next steps after A-levels. I might have chosen not to go to university, however the lack of guidance on alternative routes such as apprenticeships and inadequate information on school leaver programmes gave me no other option but to take the university route. 

My decision has also been greatly influenced by money. Despite being debt-heavy, university gives me the opportunity to gain financial independence from my family.” 

Notes for editors: 

The Social Mobility Foundation (SMF) is a UK charity that works with and for ambitious young people who face structural barriers in education and work because of their socioeconomic background. They do this through directly supporting young people, influencing employers and campaigning on structural social mobility issues. 

The research was conducted by Platypus Research on behalf of the Social Mobility Foundation in March 2024. It considered the views of 3,500 young people aged 16-24, splitting them into those from lower and higher socioeconomic backgrounds according to household income and the occupations of parents or guardians. A subset of respondents were either currently students at university or planning to attend university. More detail on the findings can be found here.