The Education Policy Institute (EPI) is an independent, impartial, and evidence-based research institute that promotes high quality education
Education Policy Institute
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Almost half of the GCSE attainment gap between poorer pupils and their better-off peers is 'locked in' by the end of primary school, new research has warned
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/almost-half-of-the-disadvantage-gap-locks-in-by-age-11-research/
schoolsweek.co.uk
Report warns lower prior attainment is the 'largest contributor' to the attainment gap
Nearly half (44 per cent) of the gap between the GCSE results of disadvantaged pupils and their peers already exists at age 11.
EPI's latest report, co-published by @theeef.bsky.social, provides the most comprehensive examination to date of the socioeconomic attainment gap in England.
Schools Week
Education Policy Institute
Exploratory EPI analysis of 16 English secondary schools examines uniform policies.
As the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill prepares to cap branded uniform items at four from Sept 2026, the data raises questions about links between uniform enforcement, school image, and pupil belonging.
EPI is currently recruiting for two roles - and application deadlines are approaching.
Senior Researcher – Vulnerable Learners & Post 16 - Deadline: Mon 25 May, 5pm - epi.org.uk/jobs/senior-...
Undergraduate Research Internship 2026 - Deadline: Tues 2 June, midnight - epi.org.uk/jobs/epi-und...
New EPI analysis of FOI data from secondary schools in London reveals that higher rates of internal exclusion are associated with higher rates of suspension - suggesting that encouraging internal exclusion is unlikely, in practice, to lead to fewer external suspensions.
epi.org.uk/publications...
EPI has submitted its response to the government's consultation on 'SEND reform: putting children and young people first'.
We welcome many of the proposals. There are, however, areas in which they do not appear to correlate with the available evidence. Read our full response ⬇️
Schools closing due to falling pupil numbers aren't affecting all children equally. BBC analysis shows nearly 30% of pupils in closed schools had special educational needs, vs 20% in the wider population.
EPI's @mrjpandrews.bsky.social spoke to BBC InDepth about what might be driving the disparity.
Really interesting findings here as sampled schools don't tend to be using internal exclusions *instead* of suspensions.
This comes in the context of government pushing schools to keep more suspended pupils on site to reduce lost learning
Education Policy Institute
In some parts of England, there is 1 Educational Psychologist for every 9000 pupils with SEND. In others, it’s 1 for every 500.
James Zuccollo @edupolicyinst.bsky.social explains what this means for children, schools & overstretched services.
#PsychologyMatters: www.bps.org.uk/news/chronic...
Education Policy Institute
Education Policy Institute
Education Policy Institute
Education Policy Institute
Following the huge success of last year's inaugural awards the Smart Thinking Think Tank Awards are BACK for 2026 and officially open for applications!
Key info:
✅Free to apply
✅Open to all UK-based think tanks
✅11 categories up for grabs
All information can be found here: bit.ly/4al6UK5
School uniforms have been a feature of English education since the 1550s and are deeply embedded in English culture. In contrast to some other Western countries, such as the US and Canada, uniforms ar...
Many of the biggest challenges facing the education system – including absence, disengagement and SEND – are complex, interrelated and are shaped by socioeconomic circumstance. The government’s school...
The Education Policy Institute has submitted its response to the government’s consultation on ‘SEND reform: putting children and young people first’. EPI’s response draws on our own research in this a...
Background The Department for Education (DfE) recently announced in the schools’ white paper that they will provide increased guidance on how internal exclusion, also referred to as internal suspensio...
epi.org.uk
In schools that closed between 2020 and 2025, nearly 30% of children had special educational needs
