“Any narrowing of the disadvantage gap is welcome and primary school teachers and leaders should be applauded for the tireless support they provide their pupils on a daily basis.
“Schools are doing everything they can to reduce the gap in attainment between disadvantaged pupils and their peers, but although this data suggests things are heading in the right direction, the gap remains about as wide as it did a decade ago. Similarly, overall attainment remains well below pre-pandemic levels.
“The slow rate of progress post-Covid clearly demonstrates that the recovery plan put in place by the previous government was entirely insufficient. There needs to be far more substantial investment in education as well as renewed efforts in tacking the scourge of child poverty if we are to ever make significant progress in closing the disadvantage gap. The new government must address this long-standing problem with urgency and ambition for every child.”