Educational inequality remains a pressing issue, and a new report from the Education Policy Institute (EPI) sheds light on why the attainment gap between disadvantaged students and their peers has widened in recent years. The study examines trends between 2019 and 2023, analysing key factors such as pupil absence, special educational needs (SEND), gender, ethnicity, and regional disparities.
Key Findings
Absence Rates are a Major Driver of the Disadvantage Gap
- If disadvantaged students had the same attendance levels as their peers, the gap would have been nearly one month smaller at age 11 and four months smaller at age 16.
- Higher absenteeism thoroughly explains the widening gap at age 16 since 2019, highlighting the need for urgent policy action.
Educational Gaps Start Early and Persist Over Time
- 60% of the gap at age 11 is already present by age 7, emphasizing the importance of early intervention.
- Disadvantaged students who attend schools with lower-achieving peers fall even further behind, showing that peer effects matter.
Gender Gaps are Narrowing – But Not Always for the Right Reasons
- Boys have closed the gap with girls at GCSE level between 2019 and 2023. While this is partly due to boys catching up, it also reflects slower progress for girls in secondary school.
- Further research is needed to understand whether girls’ declining progress is linked to worsening mental health.
SEND Students Face Growing Barriers, Especially in Early Years
- The attainment gap widened significantly for reception-aged children with SEND, particularly those on SEN support.
- For older students with SEND, the gap has narrowed slightly—but rising absence rates have slowed progress.
Regional Inequality is Still a Challenge
- London continues to outperform the rest of the country, with some regions—especially the North East and Yorkshire and The Humber—falling further behind.
Policy Recommendations
To close these gaps, the report calls for:
✅ More investment in early years education, including increased pupil premium funding.
✅ A stronger focus on attendance, with better mental health support and improved SEND identification.
✅ Better access to high-quality schools for disadvantaged students to reduce segregation.
✅ A student premium for 16-19 education to prevent drop-offs at this critical transition point.
✅ A comprehensive child poverty strategy, including auto-enrolment for free school meals and greater financial support for low-income families.
Final Thoughts
This report makes it clear: educational inequality is deeply rooted and has worsened post-pandemic. If policymakers are serious about closing the gap, they must tackle absences, early interventions, and systemic barriers that hold disadvantaged students back.
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Sources:
Breaking down the gap – Education Policy Institute
Read the report here (PDF Download): Breaking-down-the-gap.pdf
