Bright pupils need more support from policymakers to help them achieve their potential, according to the Sutton Trust.

The foundation, which was set up in 1997 to improve social mobility through education, argues that the government needs to do more to nurture talented children and young people.

It urges MPs to give their backing to a new national programme for highly able students in state schools, which would be an ideal substitute to the “gifted and talented” scheme that was discontinued three years ago.

A recent survey by the Sutton Trust showed that 80 per cent of parents and teachers are of the opinion that schools should do their utmost to support precocious youngsters.

News of this comes immediately on the back of an announcement from the education charity, which saw it launch a new flagship programme called Sutton Scholars.

Funded by the Wolfson and Sofronie Foundations, as well as four partner universities the scheme will offer 400 highly able pupils from non-selective state schools the opportunity to take part in further study.

This will take place at Cambridge University, Warwick University, Nottingham University or University College London.

Students in Year 7, 8 and 9, who are in the top ten per cent of the ability range within their age groups will be selected.

“The trust has long worked with bright students in the later years of secondary school and in the sixth form,” said Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust.

“But if we want more students from low and middle income homes to be in the running for university places when they are 18, we need to support them much earlier on, so that they continue to do well at school, have high aspirations for their futures, and make the right educational choices

“[This] new programme is intended to show the way forward, increasing social mobility through enhanced opportunities for bright young students.”

Recent data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development shows that the UK lags behind other nations in international tables for support of highly able students.