SOCIAL MOBILITY
Since 2021, we have been working with The Leathersellers’ Company and Charitable Fund on several projects linked to Social Mobility.
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SOCIAL MOBILITY LANDSCAPE REVIEW​
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​This report summarises the literature surrounding social mobility, with a particular focus on the policy context and landscape of key stakeholders in the education sector (from the early years to higher education) working to improve social mobility in England. This report was written to guide The Leathersellers’ Company and Charitable Fund in their strategic decision-making.
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Social mobility broadly refers to the extent to which a family’s socio-economic and cultural background affects a person’s future opportunities and prospects. It is a complex and multi-faceted concept rooted in historical and social inequalities and results in development and achievement gaps between children from disadvantaged backgrounds compared and their better-off peers. In England, by the time they reach secondary school, pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds are nearly two years behind their peers in their learning.
In this report, we map out the main causes of social inequality and define social mobility. We then examine the social mobility situation in England and identify some solutions from the education sector to overcoming the barriers to upward social mobility. The report provides an overview of the main actors working to improve social mobility in the country and offers case studies of promising practices across the different education phases (from the early years to further and higher education).
FULL REPORT:
SUMMARY VERSION:
RAPID REVIEW OF STUDENT AID PROGRAMMES​
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​This report summarises the evidence on the impact of past or existing student aid programmes (grant schemes, scholarships and bursaries) in the UK and internationally for sixth form (or equivalent), undergraduate and graduate education. This report was written to provide an accessible summary of evidence to shape and inform the design of the Leathersellers’ Company’s evaluation of its Sixth Form Scholarship and Student Grant schemes.
Further/ Higher Education is one key driver of social mobility, but students from disadvantaged backgrounds are much less likely to gain access than their peers. When they do gain access, students from disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to complete their degree. Student aid can be effective at reducing these barriers but more research is needed on longer-term impacts.
This rapid review examines student aid schemes in relation to their scope, reach, criteria and outcomes. The literature identifies three broad categories of financial aid mechanisms:
1) Tuition support: Provision of financial support to fully or partly cover tuition fees for the student.
2) Other monetary support: Provision of financial aid for indirect costs (beyond the scope of tuition) such as accommodation and school supplies.
3) Non-monetary support: Provision of non-financial support especially designed to mitigate less tangible social, emotional and cultural disadvantage. This may be through mentoring, peer connections, etc.
FULL REPORT:
THE LEATHERSELLERS' STUDENT GRANTS AND 6TH FORM SCHOLARSHIPS: KEY FINDINGS FROM A HIGH-LEVEL EVALUATION​
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This report examines the impact of the Leathersellers’ student aid programmes on social mobility and presents a summary of the findings from the high-level evaluation of the impact of the Leathersellers’ two student aid schemes: Colfe’s Sixth Form Scholarships and the University Student Grants Programmes.
This report comprises of four main sections:
1) An introduction setting the context and sharing the key takeaways from the Rapid Review of Student Aid Programmes report;
2) The evaluation approach and methodology, based on the programme’s theory of change which informed the priority questions for this evaluation;
3) The evaluation findings addressing each evaluation question, drawing from the various data sources available to inform this analysis; and
4) Continued challenges facing recipients and considerations for the future in terms of areas of development.
FULL REPORT:
The above reports are based on research funded by The Leathersellers’ Company and Charitable Fund. The findings and conclusions contained within are those of Better Purpose and do not necessarily reflect positions or policies of The Leathersellers’ Company and Charitable Fund. 
If you'd like to discuss any aspect of this work, please email julie.belanger@betterpurpose.co
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