The Education Policy Institute (EPI) reported on 14 July 2026 that the educational performance gap between pupils from low-income households and their wealthier peers in England has widened. Despite some post-Covid improvements, the disadvantage gap remains larger at every educational phase than before the pandemic.
Widening Educational Disparities Post-Covid
According to the EPI, the gap in academic achievement for children in early years is now 17% greater compared to pre-Covid levels. This disparity is particularly concerning as disadvantaged pupils are falling further behind their classmates by an average of 19 months by the time they reach Key Stage 4, where they sit their GCSEs.
While some gaps in educational performance have begun to close for older students, the EPI highlights that early years education and Key Stage 4 have seen a resurgence in widening gaps. The report underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to support disadvantaged students.
Government Initiatives to Address the Disadvantage Gap
The Department for Education is actively working to close the disadvantage gap by expanding government-funded childcare and increasing eligibility for free school meals. The government previously set an ambitious target to halve the disadvantage gap by the time the current generation of children finishes secondary school.
Julie McCulloch, chief executive of the EPI, stated, “The size of the gap between the educational outcomes of children from more and less advantaged backgrounds is a scourge on our society.” She emphasized that the government must adopt a more rigorous approach to achieving its target.
