DISADVANTAGED sixth form and college students are around three A-level grades behind their more affluent peers - and worse in one area of Somerset - a new report suggests.

The attainment gap is largely explained by poorer students already having lower grades at the end of their GCSEs, according to an exploratory analysis by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) think tank.

Disadvantaged students fall even further behind through sixth form and college, leaving them around half an A-level grade behind better-off peers with the same GCSE results, the report suggests.

The EPI research, which is based on a new provisional methodology, explores the “disadvantage gap” for older students enrolling in sixth form or college.

It looks at students’ free school meal status during their last six years of school and it assesses their attainment based on the qualifications and grades achieved between the end of secondary school and by the age of 19.

There is an attainment gap equivalent to almost three A-level grades between the best three qualifications of disadvantaged students and their peers, the provisional findings suggest.

For sixth form and college students identified as being “persistently disadvantaged”, who were on free school meals for more than 80% of their time at school, this gap is the equivalent to four A-level grades.

It found that the disadvantage gap varies considerably across England.

Poorer students are the equivalent of around five A-level grades behind in Knowsley, North Somerset and Stockton-on-Tees, while in parts of London there is no gap at all, according to the findings.

The exploratory research, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, suggests additional funding should be targeted at disadvantaged 16 to 19-year-olds, especially following the disruption caused by the pandemic.

Sam Tuckett, senior researcher at the EPI, said the findings show “deep-seated inequalities” follow poorer teenagers from school through to sixth form and college and “continue to widen”.

He said: “Given the enormous disruption that the pandemic has caused to learning, the need to offer more targeted support to poorer students at this important stage in their education is especially urgent.”

Natalie Perera, chief executive of the EPI, said: “The fact that poorer students are around three A-level grades behind their peers, and in some parts of the country as many as five A-level grades behind, is a very stark reminder of the high levels of educational inequality in this country.

“The vast majority of the Government’s funding to support Covid catch-up learning is for younger pupils in schools, but the evidence from this report shows that we need to see additional support for students in 16-19 education, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, who we know have taken the biggest hit from the pandemic.”

David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges (AoC), said: “This analysis backs up our plea for a higher funding rate for 16 to 19-year-olds and for an extension of the pupil premium to age 19.

“Young people in England’s school sixth forms and colleges have lower hours of teaching, less support and less enrichment than their peers in other countries, and less than those in private schools.

“That needs to change.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We are determined to ensure disadvantaged students are properly supported while studying at college or sixth form so they can gain the skills they need to progress. This includes providing extra funding for disadvantaged 16 to 19-year-old students, specifically those with low prior attainment or who live in the most disadvantaged areas.

“To help make sure all students have a good grasp of English and maths, those who don’t achieve GCSE grade 4 at 16 are supported to achieve these essential qualifications.

“So that no young person is left behind as a result of the pandemic, we are also investing £102 million to extend the 16-19 Tuition Fund to support hundreds of thousands of students who most need help to catch up in English, maths and other vocational and academic subjects.

“As with all areas of 16-19 funding we will continue to keep the support we offer disadvantaged students under review.”