New research from the Sutton Trust finds that white working-class pupils continue to face some of the biggest barriers to educational success in England, despite years of policy efforts to improve outcomes for disadvantaged students.

The study examines the “London Effect,” the trend of disadvantaged pupils in London outperforming similar pupils elsewhere. However, white pupils eligible for free school meals in the capital perform slightly worse than their counterparts in the North East, showing London’s success is not shared equally across all groups.

The attainment gap for white working-class girls is widening, with the difference between their outcomes and those of disadvantaged pupils from other ethnic backgrounds nearly doubling since 2016.

Carl Cullinane, director of research and policy at the charity, said differing parental experiences and attitudes are a key driver, noting that white working class parents are more likely to have had negative experiences of school themselves, affecting how they engage with their children’s education.

The report points to significant regional inequalities in attainment, university progression and future earnings, and calls for more targeted funding for deprived communities, including investment in early years education, tutoring and careers guidance.