Regional school results gap ‘widening’

Where children grow up in England is more likely to determine success or failure at school than in previous generations, a study suggests. The Social Market Foundation has examined test results of cohorts born in 1970 and 2000 and found regional differences have become much greater.Pupils’ results are highest in London and lowest in Yorkshire and Humber. “Where you live has become much more important,” said think tank director Emran Mian. The comparisons between the generations, based on school tests in primary school and exams such as O-levels and GCSEs, indicate that geography has become a much more significant factor in how high pupils are likely to achieve. For pupils born in 1970, the study says that location was much less of an influence, with a much a stronger link to factors such as social background. Family background and income remain important, but the study says “the geographic area a child comes from has become a more powerful predictive factor”. Read More.