Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 43
43
Insufficient funding and support hinder educational outcomes for disadvantaged post-16 students.
Conclusion
On average, economically disadvantaged students aged 16–19 do not perform as well as their peers or achieve the same educational outcomes. Per-pupil funding drops sharply after the age of 16, creating a cliff edge that limits support for disadvantaged students. Existing bursaries for disadvantaged students aged 16–19 are insufficient and inconsistently distributed. There is compelling evidence for the introduction of a student premium to match secondary school funding levels. Without targeted investment, disadvantaged learners risk falling further behind academically and professionally. (Conclusion, Paragraph 169)
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 9 December 2025. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗