Targeting Disadvantaged Areas

min read

How to reach schools in areas of high deprivation and support social mobility through employer engagement.

15% students on FSM
2x impact for disadvantaged
4+ encounters = better outcomes

Students from disadvantaged backgrounds often have less access to professional networks and workplace experiences. This creates an uneven playing field when it comes to career opportunities.

The evidence
  • Students from low-income families have fewer professional connections
  • Schools in deprived areas have fewer careers education resources
  • Disadvantaged students are less likely to enter competitive professions
  • Employer encounters can significantly raise aspirations
The impact you can have

Research shows students with multiple employer encounters are:

  • More likely to be employed as adults
  • Likely to earn more over their lifetime
  • More likely to be in professional occupations
  • Less likely to be NEET
You don't need to do anything different. The same activities you offer any school can have an even bigger impact for students who've never met someone in your profession before.

There are several ways to identify schools serving disadvantaged communities:

Free School Meals (FSM)

The percentage of students eligible for free school meals is a commonly used indicator. Schools with high FSM percentages (above 20-25%) serve more disadvantaged students.

Pupil Premium

Schools receive extra funding (Pupil Premium) for disadvantaged students. Schools with higher Pupil Premium numbers have more students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD)

IMD ranks areas of England from most to least deprived. Schools in IMD decile 1-3 serve the most disadvantaged communities.

IDACI

Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index — specifically focused on child poverty. Shows the proportion of children living in income-deprived households.

Understanding IMD Deciles
1
Most deprived 10%
10
Least deprived 10%

SparkWay has built-in features to help you reach disadvantaged students:

Eligibility criteria (ring-fencing)

When creating an opportunity, you can set eligibility criteria to prioritise certain students or schools:

Pupil Premium students Free School Meals First generation to university Care experienced SEND

How ring-fencing works

  1. Schools are shown that the opportunity is specifically for eligible students
  2. They must confirm their students meet the criteria when booking
  3. This helps ensure places go to the students who'll benefit most
School data: Our platform includes data about schools including FSM percentages and deprivation indicators. This helps you identify and prioritise schools that serve disadvantaged communities.

Gatsby Benchmarks

The Gatsby Benchmarks specifically call out the importance of employer engagement for disadvantaged students:

  • Benchmarks 5 & 6 (employer encounters and workplace experiences) apply to all students
  • Schools must track that disadvantaged students access the same opportunities
  • Schools must actively address any gaps in provision
Ofsted expectations

Ofsted inspectors look at:

  • Whether careers programmes are accessible to all students, including disadvantaged learners
  • How schools monitor participation to ensure no groups are missing out
  • The impact of careers education on student outcomes
Tip: Schools in disadvantaged areas are often very motivated to work with employers because they know how important it is for their students. You may find them particularly receptive.

Remove barriers that might prevent disadvantaged students from participating:

Transport
  • Public transport accessible?
  • Cover transport costs?
  • Visit the school instead?
  • Virtual alternatives?
Timing
  • School hours are best
  • After-school may exclude students with caring duties
Costs
  • Never charge students
  • Provide lunch for full days
  • Supply all materials
Dress code
  • Don't require specific clothing
  • Provide PPE if needed
  • School uniform is fine
Virtual options: Virtual activities (online talks, video tours, remote mentoring) can reach students who face barriers to in-person visits. Consider offering both options.

Reaching disadvantaged students isn't just about social responsibility — it makes business sense too:

Access to talent
  • Expand your potential talent pool
  • Diverse perspectives and experiences
  • Build your future recruitment pipeline
Social mobility commitments
  • Meet ESG commitments
  • Support D&I goals
  • Genuine community engagement
Employer brand
  • Show you care about more than profit
  • Build positive local reputation
  • Attract socially-conscious employees
Tracking impact: Keep records of which schools you've worked with and the outcomes. This data is valuable for your CSR reporting and can demonstrate the impact of your engagement programme.
Every encounter matters.
For a student who's never met someone in your profession, a single conversation can change their view of what's possible for their future.
On this page
0%
Back to Resources