Overview
- The independent inquiry moved from diagnosis to action on Monday by launching a second phase that pairs new large-scale research with trials inside schools and education organisations.
- The inquiry’s June analysis identified about 1.25 million white British pupils on free school meals as a low-performing group and found roughly 36% of them reached Grade 4 or above in English and maths compared with 72% of pupils not on free school meals.
- Its June recommendations include boosting apprenticeship places, offering free local public transport for under-21s, and supporting school smartphone bans; the new phase will pilot these measures and evaluate their effects.
- Co-chairs Sir Hamid Patel and Baroness Estelle Morris said the inquiry will build a national network of organisations to turn evidence into lasting change and to pinpoint where further research is needed.
- Education Secretary Lucy Powell publicly backed the work, linking the inquiry to efforts to reduce the near‑one million young people not in education, employment or training and to improve routes from school into work or further study.