Fair Education in 2025: England’s Report Card
Fair Education in 2025: England’s Report Card
Every child and young person should have the chance to thrive in education, work, and life — no matter their background. Yet our latest Report Card shows the gap between children from low-income households and their peers remains wide at every stage of education and into employment.
Fair Education in 2025: England’s Report Card sets out where progress has been made, where urgent challenges remain, and what needs to happen next.
What’s inside the Report Card
This year’s Report Card highlights:
The impact goals we use to track educational equity, from early childhood through to employment.
The latest evidence on gaps in attainment, wellbeing, skills, and employment outcomes.
Policy recommendations for government, informed by the voices of young people and our members.
Our four Fair Education Priorities that must be addressed to break the link between background and life chances:
Make mission-driven government a reality
Support the education workforce in underserved areas
Prepare young people to contribute to tomorrow’s world
Universalise inclusion to meet pupil needs
From priorities to practice
Alongside the Report Card, we’re sharing four case studies that illustrate how these priorities are being put into action on the ground. These examples highlight the power of cross-sector collaboration — from local partnerships and schools to youth leadership and innovative workforce approaches.
Why this matters
The Report Card is not just a snapshot of challenges, but a roadmap for action. It reflects the collective insight of our cross-sector coalition, and a shared vision for an education system where socioeconomic background no longer determines outcomes.
Together, we can create a fair education system — from neighbourhood to national.
Report Card 2025: Case Studies
The Fair Education in 2025: England’s Report Card sets out four key priorities for change.
Want to see what they look like in real life? Here are four examples of where those priorities are already making a difference - through schools, partnerships, and training initiatives across the country.
These stories are more than case studies—they're real-world proof that the priorities laid out in the Report Card can drive change. They show how, with commitment and collaboration, educational inequity can be tackled effectively, whether through aligned systems, workforce strengthening, skills development, or inclusive cultures.
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West Essex Children and Young People's Partnership Board
Fair Education Priority: Make mission-driven government a reality
This local partnership uses the Common Outcomes Framework to structure collaboration across services—bringing together schools, youth services, local authorities, and voluntary organisations. Their strategic planning ensures every part of the system is working toward shared goals for children and young people.
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Power Up Pastoral Programme
Fair Education Priority: Support the education workforce in underserved areas
This one-year training programme was created by FEA member organisations to develop the skills and potential of non-teaching pastoral staff in schools. It’s about empowering and equipping vital frontline workers to support pupils’ wellbeing and resilience.
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St Luke's Primary School, Rochdale
Fair Education Priority: Prepare young people to contribute to tomorrow’s world
St Luke’s has embedded skills development and careers education across the curriculum - from project-based learning to understanding future career options. Pupils are growing essential skills and seeing real progress in their confidence and aspirations.
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Percy Main Primary School, North Shields
Fair Education Priority: Universalise inclusion to meet pupil needs
At Percy Main, inclusion is not an add-on—it’s embedded in everything the school does. They’ve seen tangible benefits by adopting a whole-school approach: better wellbeing, more belonging, and improved outcomes for all pupils.