What's happened
A report by the Education Policy Institute reveals that the educational attainment gap between rich and poor pupils in England has widened significantly since 2019, with disadvantaged pupils falling further behind their wealthier peers. The gap has increased at all stages of schooling, with disadvantaged pupils more than 19 months behind by the time they sit their GCSEs. The situation is particularly dire for persistently disadvantaged pupils, who are almost two years behind by age 16. London is the only region where disadvantaged pupils have higher attainment than elsewhere in England.
What's behind the headline?
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, the Education Policy Institute's report reveals that disadvantaged pupils in England are falling further behind their wealthier peers, with the attainment gap widening at all stages of schooling. The Mirror emphasizes the impact of the pandemic and five years of Tory rule on exacerbating inequalities in the education system, leaving the new government to address these challenges. The report highlights the stark reality of disadvantaged pupils being significantly behind their richer classmates, especially by the time they reach secondary school.
How we got here
The Education Policy Institute's report sheds light on the persistent issue of educational inequality in England, with disadvantaged pupils facing significant challenges in achieving academic success. The gap between rich and poor pupils has widened since 2019, with disadvantaged pupils falling further behind at all stages of schooling. The report underscores the failure of current policies, such as the pupil premium, to effectively address this issue and calls for urgent action to bridge the education gap and ensure equal opportunities for all students.
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