England’s School Disadvantage Gap Widens Again, Leaving Poorer Pupils 19 Months Behind at 16
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 14
England’s School Disadvantage Gap Widens Again, Leaving Poorer Pupils 19 Months Behind at 16
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 14
Summary
A new EPI report found England’s education gap has widened again, with disadvantaged pupils now averaging 19 months behind better-off classmates by Key Stage 4.
The gap is still larger at every school phase than before Covid, and is especially severe in early years, where the attainment divide is 17% wider than pre-pandemic levels.
Regional and needs-based disparities also stand out: disadvantaged pupils in London outperform peers elsewhere, while the South-East and South-West saw the biggest gap growth; for children with education, health and care plans, gaps hit record highs.
The EPI urged wider free childcare access and more funding tied to free school meal eligibility, while unions and councils called for assessment reform and stronger SEND investment.
The findings sharpen pressure on the government’s pledge to halve the gap by the time today’s children finish secondary school, even as ministers promise expanded childcare and broader free school meal access.
Why are England's disadvantaged students falling 19 months behind, while those in London are bucking the trend?
With special needs cases at a record high, can a £7 billion plan reverse the educational gap for England's most vulnerable students?
The Disadvantage Gap at a Decade High: Causes, Consequences, and Policy Responses in England’s Education System
Overview
Educational inequality in England has reached its most serious level in over a decade. The disadvantage gap, which measures the difference in attainment between disadvantaged pupils and their peers, has grown steadily since 2018-2019 and is now at its widest since 2010-2011. After the return to pre-pandemic grading in 2023, the gap at the end of secondary education increased from 18.8 months in 2022 to 19.2 months in 2023. This trend shows that recent changes and ongoing challenges have reversed years of progress, highlighting the urgent need for effective action to address widening educational divides.