A young person’s chances of succeeding in education and later life are still heavily influenced by where they grow up, their ethnicity and their gender, according to new research from the Sutton Trust.
The charity’s latest report reveals that while some disadvantaged groups achieve excellent results at school, those achievements are not always rewarded equally in the workplace. The findings raise important questions about social mobility, fairness and the barriers that continue to affect young people across England.
The reality behind the ‘London effect’
For years, London has been praised for the strong academic performance of its disadvantaged pupils. However, the new research suggests that this success story is more complex than it first appears.
The report found that London’s high overall attainment levels are partly driven by the capital’s ethnic diversity. More than half of all Bangladeshi and Black Caribbean pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM) live in London, compared with just 5% of white FSM pupils.
Students from Indian and Bangladeshi backgrounds continue to achieve some of the strongest results in school, while White British pupils eligible for free school meals consistently record the lowest attainment levels across England.
Perhaps most surprisingly, white working-class pupils in London actually perform slightly worse than their counterparts in the North East, despite being surrounded by one of the country’s strongest education systems.
School success does not always lead to workplace success
One of the report’s most striking findings is that strong educational achievement does not guarantee equal outcomes in the labour market. For example, Bangladeshi girls eligible for free school meals perform 11% above the national average at school. Yet by the age of 28, they earn around 20% less than average.
The research found that a Bangladeshi FSM girl in the North West typically achieves GCSE results almost twice as high as a White British FSM boy in the South East. Despite this, she is likely to earn nearly £5,500 less a year by age 28.
This pattern is repeated across several ethnic groups, suggesting that barriers continue to exist beyond education and into employment.
Why do some groups perform better at school?
According to the Sutton Trust, attitudes towards education and parental experiences play a significant role.
Families from Black African, Bangladeshi, Black Caribbean, Pakistani and Indian backgrounds are far more likely to invest in private tutoring than White British families, even among lower-income households. Disadvantaged pupils from these groups were found to be four to five times more likely to receive private tuition.
The report also highlights the success of many first- and second-generation immigrant communities. The UK is one of only two countries in Europe where second-generation immigrants outperform their peers academically. In contrast, some groups, particularly white working-class communities and Black Caribbean young people, are more likely to experience the long-term effects of multi-generational poverty, which can impact aspirations and confidence about future opportunities.
A postcode lottery of opportunity
The Sutton Trust has also published a new ranking showing how opportunities for white working-class young people vary dramatically across England.
The findings reveal significant differences depending on where young people grow up. Urban areas such as Newcastle, Brighton, Leeds and Leicester rank among the lowest for white working-class opportunity. At the opposite end of the scale, Brent West in London ranks highest, while Newcastle Upon Tyne Central and West ranks lowest.
The gap between areas is substantial. White working-class young people growing up in Kensington and Bayswater achieve school results around 75% higher than those in Newcastle Upon Tyne Central and West. By age 28, they also earn more than 50% more on average.
These findings demonstrate that geography continues to play a major role in shaping life chances.
Women and girls face additional barriers
The report also highlights significant gender inequalities. Across all ethnic groups, working-class girls generally outperform boys at school. However, those educational advantages often disappear in adulthood.
Working-class women consistently earn less than their male counterparts and less than women from more advantaged backgrounds. White working-class women face particularly difficult outcomes, earning 41% below the national average.
The report also found that the attainment gap between white working-class girls and other disadvantaged ethnic groups has nearly doubled since 2016. Persistent absence from school is believed to be one contributing factor.
Breaking into top-paying careers
The chances of reaching the highest earning jobs also vary sharply between ethnic groups. Only 8% of White British and Black Caribbean adults who were eligible for free school meals as children become top earners by age 28.
By comparison, 19% of disadvantaged Indian young people and 20% of those from Other Asian backgrounds progress into the top 20% of earners.
These figures suggest that while educational achievement is important, it is not the only factor influencing future success.
What needs to change?
The Sutton Trust is calling on the Government to increase investment in the communities that need it most. This includes restoring the value of the Pupil Premium, which has been significantly reduced by inflation since 2014, and directing more funding towards disadvantaged areas.
The charity also argues that regional education and employment initiatives should be driven by better data and targeted more effectively at communities facing the greatest barriers.
Nick Harrison, Chief Executive of the Sutton Trust, said: “White working-class young people continue to face some of the biggest barriers to educational success in England, with many falling behind long before they leave school. At the same time, many disadvantaged groups, particularly working-class girls and ethnic minority pupils, achieve excellent results at school but do not see those achievements reflected in their earnings later in life.
“Talent exists in every community, but the routes to success remain deeply unequal. We need targeted support for the communities most at risk of being left behind, while also tackling the barriers in the labour market that prevent many young people from fulfilling their potential.”
The report is a reminder that social mobility is about much more than exam results. While education remains a powerful tool for change, young people’s opportunities continue to be shaped by factors beyond their control, including where they live, their background and their gender.
You can access the full report here.
In games, Into Games is a charity that helps working class and low-income individuals access careers in the industry. You can find out more about their work here.
Photo by Taylor Flowe on Unsplash
