The Issue
Every year, over 1 in 2 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds leave school without GCSEs in English and maths. Without these qualifications, they are locked out of many opportunities for further study, training and work, and are at greater risk of dropping out of education all together.
We exist to change this story.
Get Further’s mission is to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds in further education to secure gateway English and maths qualifications that unlock opportunities.
We do this because over 200,000 16-year-olds leave school without GCSEs in English and maths every year and an estimated nine million working-age adults in England have low literacy and numeracy skills. Lacking these gateway qualifications locks people out of many opportunities for education and employment and is associated with many adverse outcomes for earnings potential, health, and wellbeing.
Having low English and maths qualifications is the single biggest predictor of becoming
NEET
(Not in Education, Employment or Training).
Without Level 2 English and maths qualifications, a person is
9 Times
more likely to be Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) when they leave school.
Over a person’s lifetime, missing out on a pass by just one grade will result in an average loss of
£73,062
for GCSE maths and
£47,355
for GCSE English.
The attainment gap between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers is longstanding. Worryingly, it has widened among both secondary school pupils and 16- to 19-year-olds in recent years. This means young people and adults from disadvantaged backgrounds are disproportionately affected by the adverse outcomes associated with lacking gateway qualifications.
disadvantage gap in Attainment of GCSE English and maths at end of year 11
*CAGs and TAGs refer to Centre Assessed and Teacher Assessed Grades awarded
during years where exams were cancelled due the pandemic.
Source: The Education Policy Institute Annual Report (2024).
Our vision is for every young person and adult to achieve the gateway qualifications they need to progress and thrive in education, work, and life.
We know that having a tutor to provide tailored support and rebuild confidence is one of the most effective ways to help students catch up. But too often, this is out of reach for those from low-income backgrounds.
We are proud to be in the only non-profit working exclusively with post-16 education providers, working closely with them to ensure more students can access the extra help they need to get back on track in education.
Partner with us
Through high-impact tuition and evidence-informed training and resources for teachers, we partner with post-16 education providers to equip young people and adults with the qualifications and skills they need to thrive in education, work, and life.
BECOME A TUTOR
Our talented tutors are trained by experts to use impactful teaching methods that boost the confidence and skills of their students. They have a direct impact on the life chances of their students, helping them to secure gateway qualifications and unlock opportunities.