Commenting on The Sutton Trust's Opportunity Index, which outlines inequality in educational outcomes for children from better off and poorer parliamentary constituencies, Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“Regional inequalities in educational attainment were exacerbated over the last decade by funding cuts under the previous government to schools and community services, the pandemic, and the cost-of-living crisis.

"Schools do their best to mitigate the impact of this and support pupils, and we welcome the education secretary’s focus on closing the disadvantage gap.

“However, schools alone cannot solve what are often deep-rooted challenges in families’ lives. As well as increased funding for schools we also need more government investment in services like social care and mental health, as well as action to tackle poverty, if children across the country are to flourish in the classroom.”