Poorer students ‘three A-level grades behind better-off peers’
Neil Puffett
Monday, March 1, 2021
The first study to measure the education “disadvantage gap” amongst sixth form and college students has found that poorer pupils are on average the equivalent of three whole A-level grades behind their better off peers.
The study, funded by the Nuffield Foundation and conducted by the Education Policy Institute (EPI), found that the gap in attainment is largely a result of poorer students already having lower grades at the end of their GCSEs.
Disadvantaged students then fall even further behind through sixth form and college, falling around half an A-level grade behind better-off students who had the same GCSE results.
When comparing the best three qualifications of disadvantaged students - those who had claimed free school meals in secondary school - and the best three qualifications of their non-disadvantaged peers, the gap in attainment was found to be equivalent to almost three A-level grades.
For the very poorest sixth form and college students – those classed as “persistently disadvantaged” - who were on free school meals for more than 80 per cent of their time at school – the gap was even wider, equivalent to four A-level grades.
However, there are wide regional variations. While in many London areas poorer students are level with, or even ahead of, their more affluent peers, poorer students are the equivalent of five whole A-level grades behind their more affluent peers in Knowsley, North Somerset and Stockton-on-Tees.
The report predicts that the situation is likely to be worsened by the unequal impact of the pandemic on learning loss, along with the very different approaches to assessments seen in academic and vocational qualifications during 2020.
EPI said most existing research on the disadvantage gap in education has focused almost entirely on the outcomes of pupils at secondary school level and below, with very little understanding of what the gap is after this age. It said the findings “bring into sharp focus the extent of educational inequality among older students” at a critical period in their lives, just as they enter adulthood.
Natalie Perera, chief executive of EPI, said: “The fact that poorer students are around three A-level grades behind their peers, and in some parts of the country as many as five A-level grades behind, is a very stark reminder of the high levels of educational inequality in this country.
“The vast majority of the government's funding to support Covid catch-up learning is for younger pupils in schools, but the evidence from this report shows that we need to see additional support for students in 16-19 education – particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, who we know have taken the biggest hit from the pandemic.”
David Hughes, chief executive of the Assocation of Colleges, the representative body for England's colleges, said: “The EPI report confirms what we all know, that growing up in poverty or disadvantage impacts on educational achievement. That’s precisely why there is a pupil premium in schools. Sadly, it stops at age 16, even though the impact of disadvantage does not.
“This analysis backs up our plea for a higher funding rate for 16- to 19-year-olds and for an extension of the pupil premium to age 19. Young people in England’s school sixth forms and colleges have lower hours of teaching, less support and less enrichment than their peers in other countries, and less than those in private schools. That needs to change.
“Colleges work hard to deliver great education and training to over 650,000 young people, and meet the needs of twice the number of disadvantaged 16 to 18-year-olds in further education colleges compared to school sixth forms. Sadly, the funding is not adequate, and actually reduces further for 18-year-olds who might need a three-year programme to achieve their ambitions.
“The government talks a lot about levelling up. Here’s a chance to show they mean it, by boosting funding for the most disadvantaged young people so that they can be supported into good jobs or progress in learning.”
The Department for Education said it is determined to ensure disadvantaged students are properly supported while studying at college or sixth form so they can gain the skills they need to progress.
“This includes providing extra funding for disadvantaged 16-to 19-year-old students, specifically those with low prior attainment or who live in the most disadvantaged areas,” a spokeswoman said.
“To help make sure all students have a good grasp of English and maths, those who don’t achieve GCSE grade 4 at 16 are supported to achieve these essential qualifications. So that no young person is left behind as a result of the pandemic, we are also investing £102m to extend the 16-19 Tuition Fund to support hundreds of thousands of students who most need help to catch up in English, maths and other vocational and academic subjects.
“As with all areas of 16-19 funding we will continue to keep the support we offer disadvantaged students under review.”
