MPs call for action on pandemic-widened gap between England’s poor and rich pupils

Public accounts committee warns that without more intervention, attainment gap could take decade to return to pre-Covid levels

It could take a decade for the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their wealthier peers to return to pre-pandemic levels in England without faster and more effective intervention, MPs have warned.

The estimate was made during evidence given to parliament’s influential public accounts committee (PAC) as part of its inquiry into education recovery after the disruption of Covid.