The attainment gap has widened during the coronavirus lockdown with larger gaps emerging among primary school age pupils, according to new data.
Research has shown that the gap between the scores of the highest and lowest performing pupils taking reading and understanding tests has increased during the partial closure of schools.
The data is revealed in a new report by the Data Evaluation and Learning for Viral Epidemics (DELVE) group, which provides advice to government scientists.
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It shows that the results of reading and understanding tests have shown a widening of the gap between the highest- and lowest-performing pupils in four different year groups: Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.
The results come from Star test results, which were completed on Renaissance Learning, an online education site, both before and during the partial shutdown of schools.
The data shows that the difference in test scores between the highest and lowest performers has widened more in primary school year groups, with the largest increase in Year 3 at 52 per cent.
At Year 5, the increase in the difference in test scores was 39 per cent. For Years 7 and 9, the gap increased by a smaller amount - 13 per cent.
Last month, separate research suggested school closures may have widened the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their classmates by up to 75 per cent.
The analysis from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) research charity used existing evidence of the impact of school closures on disadvantaged pupils in circumstances such as summer holidays, adverse weather and natural disasters - as well as factors that may moderate the impact.
It found that the gap could, at worst, almost double between March and September.
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Nothing can replace being in the classroom, which is why we have published guidance to ensure all children can return to school in September.
“Over the past weeks, we have seen up to 1.6 million children return to schools, thanks to the hard work and dedication of teachers and school staff as we implemented our phased approach to allow schools to open to further pupils.
“To make sure schools can continue to help every child reach their potential, we have continued to provide schools with their full core funding over this period, with this year marking the first year of a three-year £14.4 billion total cash boost.
“We are also investing an additional £1 billion through our Covid catch-up fund to help all children to make up the impact lost time in school has had on their education.”
