What’s the problem?
According to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, quality education is an inalienable and fundamental right that should be accessible to all individuals. The UK Government also recognizes education as a key driver of social mobility and economic development.
However, equitable access to quality education remains a challenge. The Education Policy Institute’s (EPI) 2025 annual report indicates that in 2024, students from disadvantaged backgrounds are approximately 19.1 months behind their peers by Key Stage 4, and by ages 16-19, they are, on average, 3.3 grades below their counterparts.
While various factors contribute to these disparities, limited access to enriching educational environments and targeted academic interventions, such as tutoring, may also play a significant role in widening the gap between disadvantaged students and their peers.
Schooling:
The top 100 state schools in the UK are predominantly selective grammar schools. Research published by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) suggests that grammar schools serve as a “ladder of opportunity” for disadvantaged students to access leading universities and, subsequently, higher-paying careers. This represents an important mechanism for promoting social mobility. The report recommends that the UK government consider expanding the Selective School Expansion Fund to include grammar school sites in disadvantaged areas.
Nonetheless, barriers such as lack of access to information and the financial costs associated with 11+ examinations and tutoring can further entrench socioeconomic divides.
Academic Support:
According to the Education Endowment Foundation, students can achieve up to five months’ additional progress through effective one-to-one tuition. While this is beneficial for students whose families can afford such support, it remains inaccessible to many others who lack the necessary resources.
Our solution and strategy
We propose a straightforward, two-part approach to address this issue:
- Collaborate with primary schools in our local Essex community to offer complimentary 11+ support for low-income, disadvantaged families.
- Deliver heavily subsidized GCSE science tutoring to talented and motivated students whose families might not otherwise have the financial means to access such resources.
The Equity in Education Project 