The number of disadvantaged students moving on to education, employment or apprenticeships after key stage 5 has fallen since last year.

The latest government data shows that 85 per cent of poorer pupils moved on to such destinations in 2016-7, which is a one percentage point decrease compared with 2015-16.

The DfE data also shows a one percentage point decrease since last year in the number of disadvantaged students who are likely to progress into sustained higher education - now at 46 per cent, compared with all other students (51 per cent).

Fewer school leavers in sustained education

Overall, 89 per cent of students were in sustained education, employment or apprenticeship destinations last year after key stage 5, down from 90 per cent in 2015-16  - while 61 per cent of them were in sustained education destinations (down from 62 per cent in 2015-16).

Overall, 94 per cent of pupils from key stage 4 went on to sustained education, employment or apprenticeships, which was unchanged from 2015-16, while 86 per cent of them were in education (down 87 per cent the previous year).