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Jon Datta

@jondatta

Social Mobility. Head of University Access & Digital at @suttontrust.bsky.social. Chair of Governors at Coleridge Community College.

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08.11.2024
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Latest posts by Jon Datta @jondatta

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We’re pleased to announce that @unisouthampton.bsky.social will be joining our UK Summer Schools consortium from 2026!

Students can now apply to Sutton Trust summer schools at the University of Southampton from January ⤵️

www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...

15.12.2025 08:45 👍 5 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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Degrees of Difference - The Sutton Trust What role does higher education play in driving social mobility across the world?

New @suttontrust.bsky.social research shows HE drives around 2/3 of UK upward mobility, however, access alone isn’t enough. The graduate premium has narrowed as participation grows. Task now: share the benefits fairly and strengthen routes beyond university. 🔗 www.suttontrust.com/our-research...

12.11.2025 08:04 👍 3 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 0
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Don’t miss our Head of University Access & Digital @jondatta.bsky.social speaking to Sarah Dirrane this Tuesday in a live edition of The Student Outcomes Podcast, all about place, background, and opportunity ⬇️

cosmosltd.ac-page.com/the-student-...

06.11.2025 20:44 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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📢Looking forward to joining Sarah for a live edition of The Student Outcomes Podcast on Tues 11 November.

We’ll be discussing how geography, background & policy shifts are shaping opportunity for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

🎧 Register here: cosmosltd.ac-page.com/the-student-...

29.10.2025 12:40 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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What the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper means for access and participation - The Sutton Trust The impact of the Skills White Paper on university access?

The Government’s Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper marks an important moment for higher education and social mobility in England.

@jondatta.bsky.social outlines what the announcement means for widening access to university in our latest blog ⤵️

www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...

28.10.2025 08:40 👍 5 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 1
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🗣️ "Middle-class parents have the time, the resources, and the money to be able to fight harder for their children and get the support that they need."

Our CEO, @nickharrison73.bsky.social, discussed our research on the SEND system on Sky News this morning with Matt Barbet and Leah Boleto 📺

16.10.2025 10:47 👍 6 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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Timely work from @upp-foundation.bsky.social+@publicfirst.bsky.social on a new mission for WP. With inequalities deepening, fair access must stay at the heart of HE.

🔗@suttontrust.bsky.social response: www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...
🔗 UPP Report: upp-foundation.org/new-research...

07.04.2025 11:46 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Labour must prioritise FSM reform to deliver social mobility A bill is moving through parliament that could significantly improve children's lives and schools' budgets

Our Head of University Access & Digital, @jondatta.bsky.social, discussed this issue in @schoolsweek.bsky.social in November.

He wrote about the inefficiencies within the current FSM system, as well as the advantages of moving towards a system of auto-enrolment ⬇️

schoolsweek.co.uk/fsm-reform-i...

06.03.2025 11:47 👍 2 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0

➡️Just 5% of medical students come from the lowest socio-economic backgrounds-despite that number doubling since 2012.
➡️75% of entrants come from higher socio-economic backgrounds.

27.02.2025 09:16 👍 4 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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🚨More students from the NE, NW, SW, Scotland, Wales & NI should have the chance @garynunn.bsky.social had: www.theneweuropean.co.uk/i-was-a-soci...

His @suttontrust.bsky.social Summer School experience changed his life-who else could benefit?

📅 Apply by 6 March
🔗 summerschools.suttontrust.com

19.02.2025 07:54 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
The Fairer School Index: Rethinking school performance The Fairer School Index argues that the traditional approach to evaluating schools ignores crucial contextual factors. Read more here.

There are alternative models for accountability-this one suggests moving beyond flawed progress measures: schoolsnortheast.org/news/the-fai...

A fairer system must reflect school context. What would that look like?

#EdPolicy #FairerSchools

03.02.2025 07:42 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Ofsted reveals its plans for new inspection report cards Ofsted has unveiled plans for 'fairer' school report cards with a five-point grading system across up to 11 areas, but unions warn they'll make matters worse

New Ofsted ‘report cards’ aim to provide a broader view of school performance. But will they lead to meaningful reform, or just tweak a broken system?

More on the plans: schoolsweek.co.uk/five-grades-11-areas-ofsteds-report-cards-plans-revealed

03.02.2025 07:42 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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The missing piece in Labour's accountability narrative Ofsted and curriculum reforms alone won't drive the system-wide inclusion Labour says it wants

If P8 remains the key accountability measure, schools with most disadvantaged intakes will continue to be unfairly penalised. Accountability must take context into account. More by @carolinebarlow.bsky.social: schoolsweek.co.uk/how-labour-can-fix-accountability-to-drive-the-inclusion-it-wants

03.02.2025 07:42 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

📣 Do you want to lead our media, communications, campaigning and public affairs work?

We are looking for somebody with extensive experience of public affairs and campaigning and comms work to join our team as Director of Communications and Advocacy.

Apply by 2nd Feb 👇

https://buff.ly/4gUZ8b3

17.01.2025 08:27 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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The UK should not give up on contextual admissions Scaled and standardised, lowering entry requirements for disadvantaged applicants can contribute to a fairer society, says Jon Datta

💬 "The participation gap between students who were eligible for free school meals and those who were not has now reached a record high."

@jondatta.bsky.social on the need to persist with efforts to widen access to HE via contextual admissions ⬇️

www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/uk-s...

16.01.2025 15:45 👍 7 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
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The UK should not give up on contextual admissions Scaled and standardised, lowering entry requirements for disadvantaged applicants can contribute to a fairer society, says Jon Datta

🎓 Contextual admissions can be transformative when done right-beyond the 'lucky few.' My @timeshighered.bsky.social article highlights the need for transparency, consistency & a joined-up approach to widen access. Let’s act now: www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/uk-s... #HigherEd #SocialMobility

16.01.2025 08:59 👍 3 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 0
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Sutton Trust Summer Schools

3/ Do you work with Y12/S5 students or know someone who does? Share this life-changing opportunity with your networks!

Let’s ensure more students can access this fantastic programme.

More info here:
👉 summerschools.suttontrust.com

#SocialMobility #WideningParticipation

15.01.2025 16:37 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

2/ Students will gain:
🎓 Confidence choosing where to apply & what to study
📚 Skills to be competitive applicants
🤝 A network of like-minded peers

We're especially keen to:
🌍 Increase apps from NE, NW, SW, Scotland, Wales, N.I.
🎭 Boost apps to Arts & Humanities

15.01.2025 16:37 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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1/ 🚨 Applications for @suttontrust.bsky.social Summer Schools 2025 are now open!

This FREE programme gives Y12/S5 students the chance to explore life at top unis. Apply now!

📅 Deadline: 6 March 2025

👉 summerschools.suttontrust.com

15.01.2025 16:37 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0

The choice is clear: invest in students now or risk long-term damage to social mobility and the economy.

08.01.2025 10:43 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

At @suttontrust.bsky.social, we’re calling for the reintroduction of means-tested maintenance grants to ensure talented young people aren't held back by financial barriers. Read our Fair Opportunity for All manifesto: www.suttontrust.com/wp-content/u...

08.01.2025 10:43 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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@theifs.bsky.social latest report shows that by 2025–26, the poorest students will have £1,125 less in real terms for living costs than in 2020. The gov't has yet to address these cuts or commit to the long-term future of maintenance support. This risks deepening inequalities.

08.01.2025 10:43 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

For Maths fans, 2025 is a square.
45² = 45 x 45 = 2025
Also,
9² x 5² = 2025
40² + 20² + 5² = 2025
My favourite?
1³+2³+3³+4³+5³+6³+7³+8³+9³ = 2025
#Mathematics #teaching #education

01.01.2025 13:56 👍 24964 🔁 4721 💬 920 📌 460
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Latest from Belong – students are earning, but what are we learning? Jim Dickinson assesses the findings of new polling from Belong on students' experiences of and impacts from being at work Jim Dickinson assesses the findings of new polling from Belong on students' ex...

wonkhe.com/blogs/latest...

10.12.2024 18:37 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Average student rents in London overtake the maximum maintenance loan: The 2024 Accommodation Costs Survey - HEPI A new report from Unipol and the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) reveals alarming trends in the London student accommodation market: The report, titled Priced Out? The Accommodation Costs Sur...

@hepi-news.bsky.social data: #London student rents now exceed max maintenance loans. @wonkhe.bsky.social polling shows students clock ~12hrs more/week than avg adults, with 2/3 working just to afford basics. Time for reform so education isn’t a financial struggle. www.hepi.ac.uk/2024/12/10/a...

10.12.2024 18:34 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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Labour must prioritise FSM reform to deliver social mobility A bill is moving through parliament that could significantly improve children's lives and schools' budgets

Great piece 👏

Improving access, quality, and funding around #FreeSchoolMeals “would support better educational outcomes + improve #ChildHealth and our economy”.

It’s “a crucial investment in meeting the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity”.

schoolsweek.co.uk/fsm-reform-i...

05.12.2024 10:06 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0
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🚨The UCAS deadline is near! Contextual offers can reduce grade requirements for students from less advantaged backgrounds. Our @suttontrust.bsky.social Contextual Offers Tool helps students, parents/carers & schools find which unis offer them & how to apply:
👉 suttontrust.notion.site/2025-Context...

28.11.2024 10:26 👍 5 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 0

2/ Issues include under-registration, restrictive eligibility & inadequate funding. Automatic registration & expanded eligibility could transform outcomes for pupils, schools, & the economy. The FSM (Automatic Registration) Bill is a step forward, but broader reform is essential.

29.11.2024 08:44 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Labour must prioritise FSM reform to deliver social mobility A bill is moving through parliament that could significantly improve children's lives and schools' budgets

1/ Reforming free school meals is critical for social mobility. FSM is our best indicator of socio-economic disadvantage but deeply flawed, leaving 900k+ children in poverty unsupported. Read my
@schoolsweek.bsky.social article: schoolsweek.co.uk/fsm-reform-i...
#SocialMobility #FreeSchoolMeals

29.11.2024 08:44 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 1

⏳Don’t miss out! We’re hiring a Senior Programmes Manager: University Access to lead flagship @suttontrust.bsky.social programmes like UK Summer Schools & the US Programme. Apply by 9am, Mon 2 Dec to help drive change for underrepresented students. recruitment.suttontrust.com/jobs/5200404... #Hiring

28.11.2024 17:26 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 1