GCSE results show continuing divide, says CPAG
01.03.06

The poorest children who are entitled to free school meals are still half as likely to get five good GCSEs as those who are not, according to new figures published today.

Department for Education and Skills statistics show that in England in 2005, just 29.9 per cent of pupils entitled to free school meals achieved at least GCSEs at A*-C grades. This compares to 58.9 per cent of pupils not entitled to free school meals and 54.9 per cent amongst all pupils.

Although there has been an improvement in recent years (see table below), the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) says the figures show a continuing divide in English schools between children from the poorest backgrounds and everybody else.

CPAG’s Chief Executive Kate Green said:

“While the educational divide appears to have narrowed over recent years it is a scandal that poor children are still half as likely to get five good GCSEs as their wealthier classmates.

“Education should be a tool for social mobility, but all too often today’s poor child becomes tomorrow’s poor parent. These inequalities cannot continue, so it’s vital that the Government’s schools reforms break rather than exacerbate the link between poverty and educational underachievement.”

For further information please contact:
Alex Belardinelli
CPAG Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302
abelardinelli@cpag.org.uk