Sophie Pender
Sophie Angela Pender is a British social mobility campaigner and activist. She founded the registered charity the 93% Club, the UK's least exclusive members club for people educated in state schools.
Early life and education
Pender grew up on a council estate in North London. She lost her father to substance abuse. Pender was educated at Hertswood Academy in Borehamwood. She worked two jobs to support herself during her studies, and achieved straight A*s for her A-Levels the first student in her school to do so. Pender studied English at the University of Bristol, and was the first in her family to attend higher education. Pender graduated from the University of Bristol in 2017.During her time in the University of Bristol she became involved with efforts to improve social mobility, with the University of Bristol Students' Union and the charity Access Aspiration. Whilst an undergraduate student Pender founded the 93 Percent Club. The club became a national network of student societies, who worked with organisations to improve the employability of graduates educated in state schools. Pender has referred to the 93% Club as an alternative Bullingdon Club challenging old boy networks.