A new campaign, 'Made in State School', is working to change perceptions of state education by honouring prominent state school alumni with red plaques. The campaign was founded by Sophie Pender, who also established the 93% Club.
Pender created the 93% Club while attending Bristol University, aiming to provide professional career mentoring and networking for state-educated individuals. The initiative highlights that 93% of people educated in the UK attended state schools.
The 'Made in State School' campaign has already presented plaques to figures such as Andy Burnham. The campaign seeks to counter the perception of state schools as a hardship, instead framing them as symbols of British excellence, innovation, and creativity.