Pupils on free school meals half as likely to get top grades

Analysis of Ofqual data shows that children on free school meals were less than half as likely to get a Grade 7 (A) or above in their GCSE results.

The data suggests that just under 14 per cent of grades for students on free school meals were Level 7 or above compared with over 31 per cent among their peers, making those eligible for free school meals 57 per cent less likely to achieve a top grade.

The Labour Party says that the gap in attainment between students on free school meals and their peers has increased by almost a third since 2019 .

Students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have also seen a widening attainment gap, with students with SEND seeing fewer than 10 per cent of their grades at top Level 7 and just over half (51 per cent) of grades at Level 4 or above compared to 83 per cent among their peers.

Kate Green, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, said: “Todays results also present a stark warning that the Conservatives are letting down our country. Children on free school meals have been abandoned by this government and students in state schools are again being outstripped by their more advantaged private school peers. These widening attainment gaps are testament to the Conservatives’ failed approach to education.

“The government has been warned that without action the Covid legacy will be one of widening inequalities, yet their recovery plan is woefully insufficient. Labour has set out a bold recovery plan that would support every child to bounce back from the pandemic. It’s time the Conservatives get behind Labour’s plan and match our ambition for children’s futures.”