Disadvantage gap continues to widen since Covid

The Education Policy Institute has released its latest report looking at the disadvantage gap for both primary and secondary school pupils, using assessment data.

It finds that by the end of secondary school, disadvantaged pupils were 19.2 months behind their peers. This gap has widened since 2019 by a month, reaching its highest level since 2012.

The disadvantage gap had been narrowing before the Coronavirus pandemic and school shutdowns, although progress had already started to stall by 2019. The pandemic continued this trend, and the disadvantage gap has continued to widen since 2019.

By the end of primary school, the disadvantage gap had grown to 10.3 months – one month wider than in 2019 and higher than its 2012 level.

Commenting, Dr Ben Styles, NFER’s Head of Classroom Practice, said: “The findings of this report paint a worrying picture, with the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils, particularly those at ages five, 11 and 16, and their peers continuing to grow.

“Schools are already facing increased challenges due to the impact of the cost of living. The new Government should aim to develop a long-term strategy that would have a particular focus on very low attaining pupils and closing the disadvantage gap. To do this, it is essential that schools are both adequately funded and supported to do so using evidence-based approaches.”