Calls for Post-GCSE Support for Disadvantaged Students

A coalition of 14 social mobility organisations is calling on the UK government to introduce a “student premium” to support disadvantaged young people after their GCSEs and reduce the risk of them falling into unemployment.

Currently, schools in England receive additional “pupil premium” funding to help students from low-income families. However, campaigners say this support effectively ends after GCSEs, creating a funding gap at a critical stage of education.

Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said disadvantaged students continue to need support beyond age 16, especially in the final years of compulsory education.

The proposed 16–19 student premium would help schools, colleges, and sixth forms provide targeted support such as tutoring, mentoring, and assistance in core subjects like English and maths. It also aims to reduce the number of young people classified as NEET (not in education, employment, or training).

According to the Office for National Statistics, around 957,000 people aged 16 to 24 were NEET in late 2025, representing 12.8% of that age group.

The coalition estimates the policy would cost approximately £430 million annually from 2027–28. They argue that the investment would significantly improve outcomes for disadvantaged students and help close the attainment gap.

Bill Watkin of the Sixth Form Colleges Association said the funding would reduce the number of students disengaging from education after 16.

Meanwhile, Sarah Waite, founder of Get Further, described the student premium as “long overdue” and essential for helping young people succeed in education and employment.

Support for the proposal also comes from Lee Elliot Major of the University of Exeter, who called the absence of post-16 funding a “major injustice,” and Rachel de Souza, who stressed the need for better resources to support disadvantaged learners.

Other organisations backing the campaign include the Association of Colleges, Sutton Trust, and Tutor Trust.

The government has said it is reviewing how funding for disadvantaged students is allocated, with a consultation expected later this year. A spokesperson for the Department for Education highlighted ongoing investment, including £776 million this year to support 16–19-year-olds, as part of a wider £8.6 billion education budget.