Report Overview
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are far reaching and are likely to impact on practically every area of government policy for a long time to come. This briefing covers the Sutton Trust’s immediate concerns, looking at how the ongoing crisis is likely to impact the most disadvantaged young people through their time in education and into the workplace.
As the crisis progresses, the Trust will be releasing research looking at these challenges in greater detail, as well as offering concrete policy recommendations on how best to lessen the impacts of the pandemic on social mobility.
Policy Focus
- Widening access to private and online tuition, both during and after the school closures, in order to minimise the impact on the attainment gap.
- Ensuring access to technology and online resources for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds while schools are closed.
- Fair access to higher education, and making sure this year’s changes to A levels and the admissions process do not impact negatively on the prospects of young people from less well-off backgrounds
- Protecting apprenticeships, making sure that current apprentices are protected financially, and trying to ensure that the apprenticeship system is ready to bounce back when restrictions are lifted.