Today we have published a new briefing ahead of the upcoming general election, looking at the gap in attainment between pupils from the most and least well off homes. finishing primary school in England last year were a third less likely to achieve the expected standards in reading, writing and maths if they came from a disadvantaged background. Year 11 pupils from lower socio-economic backgrounds were only half as likely to get grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSE compared to their wealthier peers. And the proportion of disadvantaged pupils studying A levels, just 14%, is only just over half of that at GCSE level.
This is not about ability, but about inequality in access to high quality education. And the gap gets progressively wider as children go through the system.
These figures reveal what is known as the attainment gap: the difference in educational outcomes between students from more and less affluent backgrounds.
Attainment is the biggest driver of gaps in university progression, and has knock-on implications for young people’s careers, and ultimately the chances of social mobility and higher earnings. The fact that so many disadvantaged young people are not fulfilling their potential also means that employers, businesses and the economy more generally are all missing out on wasted talent. This neglected talent could make a vital contribution to economic growth, a major aim for all major political parties.
