Statistics published by the Department for Education show that 51 per cent of disadvantaged pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in their end of primary school tests, known as Sats, compared with 70 per cent of other pupils - a gap of 19 percentage points.
This compares with a 20 percentage point gap the previous year, when 47 per cent of disadvantaged pupils and 67 per cent of their peers reached the expected standard. In 2016 the gap was 21 percentage points, with 39 per cent of disadvantaged pupils and 60 per cent of other pupils reaching the expected level.
Disadvantaged pupils are defined as those who have been eligible for free school meals at any point in the last six years or are in, or have left, care.
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