Commenting as Education Policy Institute (EPI) analysis in its 2026 Annual Report reveals that post-pandemic progress in narrowing the education disadvantage gap has stalled or is in reverse, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“These stark findings underline just how difficult it is for the government to shift the dial on the stubborn inequalities we see in children’s educational attainment.

“They were fuelled by a failure by previous governments to adequately fund schools and support for families, with some schools struggling just to maintain core provision, let alone additional support for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“This was followed by the pandemic, and sustained cost-of-living pressures which disproportionately affect disadvantaged communities and can harm children’s school attendance and their ability to thrive in the classroom.

“The government’s stated determination to tackle this, starting from children’s early years, is laudable, and measures including family hubs and extending free school meals should help in the long-run.

“It is vital the new prime minister shows sustained commitment to tackling disadvantage in all its forms and in all areas of the country. That must include sufficient investment in schools, including to ensure the much-needed reforms to the broken SEND system are properly supported, as well as in vital community services like social care and mental health."