KS1 results: reading gap increases for poorer children
61 per cent of pupils on free school meals reached the expected standard in reading in KS1 assessments by age 7, compared to 78 per cent of other pupils. This is a gap of 18 percentage points, up from 17 percentage points last year.
The overall percentage of pupils reaching the standard was 76 per cent.
When it comes to writing, 52 per cent of pupils on free school meals reached the expected standard by age 7, compared to 71 per cent of other pupils - a gap of 19 percentage points.
The gap in maths, where 60 per cent of pupils on free school meals reached the expected standard compared to 78 per cent of others, has stayed the same at 18 percentage points.
Writing is the subject with the largest difference in attainment – 75 per cent of girls reached the expected standard in 2017 compared to 62 per cent of boys.
Read moreLatest News
24/04/2026 - 12:32
A survey by Save My Exams has found that 40% of students are regularly disrupted by noise at home.
23/04/2026 - 10:13
A survey of 1,105 teachers reveals many senior leaders reporting cuts to teaching assistants (71%), support staff (49%) and teaching staff (30%).
23/04/2026 - 09:30
A report from the Digital Poverty Alliance show that while digital tools are now embedded across school routines, access and usability remain deeply uneven.
22/04/2026 - 09:28
School food improvement programme Nourish is set to launch in Cumberland in 2026, working with schools to improve the quality and culture of food throughout the school day
21/04/2026 - 07:18
The government has announced a series of new measures aimed at strengthening freedom of speech and academic freedom across universities
