Gypsy and Traveller children fall behind in tests

Department for Children, Schools and Families statistics published today (19 March) show that while 63 per cent of white British pupils eligible for free school meals reached level four or above at key stage 2, only 35 per cent of Travellers of Irish heritage and 36 per cent of Gypsy/Roma children reached this level.

Chinese and Indian students also outshone other ethnic groups. Seventy nine per cent of Chinese pupils and 78 per cent of Indian pupils on free school meals achieved level four or above in key stage 2 English.

Schools minister Sarah McCarthy-Fry said: "It is encouraging to see that children on free school meals are catching up with their peers who are not on free school meals at twice the rate they were in 2007, having narrowed the gap by two percentage points in all subjects this year."

Kate Green, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, said: "It is encouraging to see the attainment gap closing for the poorest pupils. The government rightly acknowledges that the rate of improvement must increase too, or it will be at least 13 years before the gap is closed. Progress on the eradication of child poverty will help speed up progress on closing the attainment gap."

The data also shows that children with special educational needs made a three percentage point improvement from 2007.