Coalition of 14 Social Mobility Groups Urge Government to Fund Student Premium for Disadvantaged 16-19-Year-Olds

A coalition of 14 social mobility organisations is urging the government to fund a "student premium" to support disadvantaged young people post-16 and prevent them from "falling through the cracks" into joblessness. State-funded schools in England currently receive additional pupil premium funding to support children from low-income backgrounds, who are eligible for free school meals. However, campaigners say a funding "cliff edge" after GCSEs leaves vulnerable students without the help they need post-16 during the final, important years of compulsory education. "Disadvantaged students don't stop needing support the moment they finish their GCSEs, yet that's exactly when funding falls away," said Pepe Di'Iasio, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), one of the organisations signed up to the campaign. "A 16-19 student premium would help schools, colleges and sixth forms keep young people engaged, support achievement in English and maths, and reduce the risk of students becoming Neet [not in education, employment or training]." The coalition estimates the cost of the new student premium, matching pupil premium levels at secondary school, would be about £430m per year from 2027-28, and is calling on the Treasury to provide the additional money as part of the government's drive to tackle the Neets crisis. According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of people aged 16 to 24 who were not in education, employment or training (Neet) rose to 957,000 in the final three months of last year, equating to 12.8% of the age group. The coalition says the attainment of students facing disadvantage remains significantly behind their peers by the end of 16–19 education, and those without GCSE English and maths at 16 are among those at highest risk of becoming Neet. A student premium for 16-19s would enable sixth forms and colleges to provide targeted interventions, including tutoring, mentoring and tailored academic support, particularly to help gain vital English and maths qualifications. Bill Watkin, the chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association, said: "This targeted, additional investment would make a real difference and help to reduce the number of disadvantaged young people that disengage from education after the age of 16." Sarah Waite, the CEO and founder of Get Further, which supports disadvantaged students and helps them to secure English and maths qualifications in further education, added: "A student premium is long overdue and would play a crucial role in reducing Neet rates and helping more young people achieve lifelong success." Also supporting the campaign are Lee Elliot Major, a professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter and an expert in equitable education policies, and the children's commissioner for England, Rachel de Souza. Elliot Major said: "The lack of a student premium from age 16 is one of the great injustices of our education system. It is a national scandal that support for young people from under-resourced backgrounds falls away during the very years that so profoundly shape their life chances." De Souza said: "If we are serious about closing the disadvantage gap and making sure every child succeeds in their learning and in the transition to adulthood and employment, we must work harder to make sure colleges have the resources they need to support them." Other members of the coalition calling for a new student premium include the Association of Colleges, the Fair Education Alliance, Impetus, the Sutton Trust, the Brilliant Club, the Tutor Trust and Villiers Park social mobility charity. The government is considering reforms to deprivation funding. Ministers are concerned it is not well targeted at those facing the most significant disadvantage and a consultation is expected later this year. Disadvantage funding is currently allocated based on how many pupils at a school receive free school meals – generally available to children from families with an annual income of less than £7,400. A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We are determined to break down barriers to opportunity and reach the prime minister's target for two-thirds of young people to take a gold-standard apprenticeship, higher training or head to university by age 25. "This year we are providing £776m to support the most disadvantaged 16-to-19-year-olds to achieve and thrive as part of our £8.6bn investment in further education. "We are also tackling the issues before young people reach college by rolling out free breakfast clubs, expanding free school meals and lifting the two-child benefit cap."