Responding to new statistics published by the Department for Education on provisional attainment for Key Stage 2 (KS2), Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“The KS2 data published today shows a positive reduction in the disadvantage gap index to 3.12 in 2024, but it is still higher than before the pandemic. The gap between the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and other pupils remains significant with 45% of disadvantaged pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined in 2024 compared to 67% of other pupils.

“These disparities have been impacted by the pandemic, cost-of-living crisis, and a decade of cuts to school funding and community support. When families are struggling with insecure housing, and facing impossible budgeting decisions around eating and heating, this inevitably affects children’s ability to attend school and focus and thrive in class.

“This isn’t just an issue for education, and while welcome, the government’s promise to tackle child poverty must deliver tangible results, and more must also be done to ensure social care and mental health services are equipped to support children and families facing challenges.

“The government’s curriculum and assessment review must also ask some hard questions about the nature and purpose of Year 6 Sats and other statutory tests, which distort the curriculum and pile pressure on pupils and teachers. School leaders overwhelmingly tell us that these tests are simply an accountability tool used to judge and compare school performance – and not even a reliable one at that.  These tests don’t inform future teaching and learning, support children’s progress, or aid their transition to secondary school.”