Gap between disadvantaged primary pupils and their peers narrows

New data shows the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers in primary school has continued to narrow for the seventh year.

The disadvantage gap index has shrunk by 13% since 2010 and 3% in the last year alone.

In addition the statistics show that in multi-academy trusts disadvantaged pupils did significantly better than the national average in writing and maths.

School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said: "Every child, regardless of their background, deserves a high quality education and opportunity to fulfil their potential. Headteachers are using the freedoms afforded by academy and free school status to make this a reality, as illustrated by the progress disadvantaged pupils in multi-academy trusts are making in writing and maths.

Statistics show the gap between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged pupils is smaller in MATs than the national average in each progress measure (reading, writing and maths). It shows that 88% of pupils who met the phonics standard in year 1 reached the expected standard in reading at the end of key stage 2.

What's more, the attainment gap between girls and boys has remained stable with 61% of boys meeting the expected standard compared to 68% of girls

The data is part of a number of publications from the Department today that show how our primary schools are performing. It includes the performance tables, which help parents make informed choices about schools in their areas, and how individual multi academy trusts are performing.