Britain's educational divide is increasingly becoming a London-versus-the-rest story, according to new analysis showing that the capital continues to pull away from other regions on headline measures of school performance for pupils eligible for free school meals.
London has widened its lead in both early years development and primary attainment since the pandemic, while many parts of England continue to struggle to recover lost ground.
The findings suggest that where young people grow up is becoming an increasingly important factor in shaping their life chances - especially for those from under-resourced backgrounds. The analysis was carried out for the South-West Social Mobility Commission, an innovative 'do-tank' pioneering a regional approach to improving social mobility.
The report argues that national approaches alone are unlikely to address deeply entrenched regional inequalities. If opportunities are increasingly shaped by geography, it says, solutions must also be rooted in place.
The Commission's annual report shows the South West remains one of England's weakest-performing regions educationally. At primary level, just 41 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths – the lowest regional figure in the country and below pre-pandemic levels.
Although overall absence rates have improved over the past year, severe absence remains stubbornly high in the South West and suspension, exclusion and elective home education rates remain among the highest in England.
Professor Lee Elliot Major, Britain's first Professor of Social Mobility at the University of Exeter, said: "Britain's opportunity divide is no longer simply a north-south split. Increasingly, it is a divide between London and much of the rest of the country.
"There is a compelling case for developing regional approaches to opportunity. If life chances are increasingly shaped by geography, then solutions must also be rooted in place. National policies remain essential, but they need to be complemented by local partnerships that understand the distinct challenges and strengths of different communities."
The South-West Social Mobility Commission was established to improve educational and employment opportunities across the region. It is supported by a coalition of funders including Cornwall Council, Devon County Council, Somerset Council, the University of Exeter, the Great South West partnership, the Cobalt Trust and the Persimmon Charitable Foundation.
The report shows gaps between children eligible for free school meals and their peers in England.
Around half of the 50,000 children eligible for free school meals at the end of their reception year met the expected level of development, compared with 67% of all children. In London, 58% of children eligible for free school meals met this threshold while in Devon only 45% did so.
Pupils eligible for free school meals are much more likely to be persistently absent from school compared with those not eligible for free school meals. In 2024/25, the percentage of persistent absentees in England was 23% across all secondary-age pupils. For pupils eligible for free school meals, it was almost double that figure: 40%. And while London saw a rate of 31% – fewer than one in every three pupils – Devon and Plymouth both had rates of 49% or almost one in every two.
Last summer, 44% of pupils eligible for free school meals gained a grade 4 or above in English and maths GCSE across England. This compares with 65% of all pupils. It means that a majority of pupils eligible for free school meals (56%) will need to re-sit at least one of English and maths GCSE. These figures were inverted in London, where 56% of pupils eligible for free school meals gained these vital qualifications. By contrast, only 35% of pupils in Torbay and Somerset did so.
In primary schools across England, suspension rates for pupils eligible for free school meals are around five times higher than they are for all pupils. Comparing suspension rates for pupils eligible for free school meals across areas shows rates in Somerset have been over four times higher than those in London.
Rates of permanent exclusion for pupils eligible for free school meals were 9 times higher than rates for all pupils, with even wider differences across geographies
Suspension rates for secondary pupils eligible for free school meals have been increasing across the country since the pandemic.
The South West has the lowest overall NEET rate in England and the highest proportion of former free school meal pupils in sustained employment or education by age 28. Despite this, adult earnings remain only average, and substantial inequalities persist within the region, with stronger employment outcomes concentrated in parts of Somerset and southern Devon.
Karl Tucker, Chair of the South West Social Mobility Commission, said: "Practical action is possible. Schools, colleges, universities, local authorities and community organisations are already working together to strengthen belonging, improve attendance, widen access to qualifications, support wellbeing and create clearer pathways into education and employment.
