The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a wider attainment gap between poorer pupils and their more affluent peers, with 16- to 19-year-olds worst affected, a report from the Education Policy Institute (EPI) has found.
The gap for disadvantaged students at the end of 16 to 19 study is the widest its been since the EPI’s studies started in 2017, as disadvantaged pupils were 4.5 grades behind their more affluent peers. This gap also increased across all qualification types in 2022 compared with 2019, according to the report.
Attainment for disadvantaged pupils was found to be highest in London, with the gap growing across all education phases in England. In terms of the government’s flagship opportunity areas, only Oldham managed to narrow its disadvantage gap between 2016 and 2022.
Natalie Perera, chief executive of the EPI, said: “This report serves as a warning to all political parties that education and tackling inequalities must be a priority as we head towards a general election. As well as evaluating its own "opportunity areas" the government must consider how to address growing regional disparities as well as targeting resources to disadvantaged 16-19-year-olds and newly arrived migrant children.”
