Sophie Metcalfe
@sophiemetcalfe.bsky.social
Senior researcher in policymaking at Institute for Government - especially all things housing, planning and early years
As adults, this group experiences worse employment prospects, earnings and health, and more contact with the criminal justice system.
The costs are multiple – for individuals, families, communities and the state – and cut across at least four of the five government missions.
The costs are multiple – for individuals, families, communities and the state – and cut across at least four of the five government missions.
November 20, 2025 at 7:41 AM
As adults, this group experiences worse employment prospects, earnings and health, and more contact with the criminal justice system.
The costs are multiple – for individuals, families, communities and the state – and cut across at least four of the five government missions.
The costs are multiple – for individuals, families, communities and the state – and cut across at least four of the five government missions.
These early opportunity gaps affect FSM-eligible boys throughout school.
Just 2 in 5 reached an ‘expected level’ in assessments at KS2 and KS4 in 2023-24.
More than 2 in 3 FSM-eligible boys left school without a Level 3 qualification, and over 3 in 4 didn’t go on to higher education.
Just 2 in 5 reached an ‘expected level’ in assessments at KS2 and KS4 in 2023-24.
More than 2 in 3 FSM-eligible boys left school without a Level 3 qualification, and over 3 in 4 didn’t go on to higher education.
November 20, 2025 at 7:41 AM
These early opportunity gaps affect FSM-eligible boys throughout school.
Just 2 in 5 reached an ‘expected level’ in assessments at KS2 and KS4 in 2023-24.
More than 2 in 3 FSM-eligible boys left school without a Level 3 qualification, and over 3 in 4 didn’t go on to higher education.
Just 2 in 5 reached an ‘expected level’ in assessments at KS2 and KS4 in 2023-24.
More than 2 in 3 FSM-eligible boys left school without a Level 3 qualification, and over 3 in 4 didn’t go on to higher education.
And gaps are rooted partly in the structural inequalities associated with growing up in low-income households
November 20, 2025 at 7:41 AM
And gaps are rooted partly in the structural inequalities associated with growing up in low-income households
These opportunity gaps are rooted partly in gender-based inequalities – in the home, classroom and wider society.
Illustrative examples of these here (many will be familiar)
Illustrative examples of these here (many will be familiar)
November 20, 2025 at 7:41 AM
These opportunity gaps are rooted partly in gender-based inequalities – in the home, classroom and wider society.
Illustrative examples of these here (many will be familiar)
Illustrative examples of these here (many will be familiar)
Performance varies widely by local area.
FSM-eligible boys face some of the widest opportunity gaps in areas that are doing well on GLD overall. In Kingston, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Bath and NE Somerset over 70% children reached GLD overall but only 35% of FSM-eligible boys did.
FSM-eligible boys face some of the widest opportunity gaps in areas that are doing well on GLD overall. In Kingston, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Bath and NE Somerset over 70% children reached GLD overall but only 35% of FSM-eligible boys did.
November 20, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Performance varies widely by local area.
FSM-eligible boys face some of the widest opportunity gaps in areas that are doing well on GLD overall. In Kingston, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Bath and NE Somerset over 70% children reached GLD overall but only 35% of FSM-eligible boys did.
FSM-eligible boys face some of the widest opportunity gaps in areas that are doing well on GLD overall. In Kingston, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Bath and NE Somerset over 70% children reached GLD overall but only 35% of FSM-eligible boys did.
White FSM-eligible boys - particularly those identifying as Gypsy/Roma or Travellers of Irish heritage - are among those least likely to reach GLD.
Our research doesn’t dig into why, but the Education Committee notes multi-generational poverty and living in rural areas may both play a role.
Our research doesn’t dig into why, but the Education Committee notes multi-generational poverty and living in rural areas may both play a role.
November 20, 2025 at 7:41 AM
White FSM-eligible boys - particularly those identifying as Gypsy/Roma or Travellers of Irish heritage - are among those least likely to reach GLD.
Our research doesn’t dig into why, but the Education Committee notes multi-generational poverty and living in rural areas may both play a role.
Our research doesn’t dig into why, but the Education Committee notes multi-generational poverty and living in rural areas may both play a role.
FSM-eligible boys are more likely to have SEND – and those who do are less likely to hit development milestones than other children with SEND.
Among those with any identified SEND, girls from higher-income families were nearly twice as likely to reach GLD compared to FSM-eligible boys in 2023-24.
Among those with any identified SEND, girls from higher-income families were nearly twice as likely to reach GLD compared to FSM-eligible boys in 2023-24.
November 20, 2025 at 7:41 AM
FSM-eligible boys are more likely to have SEND – and those who do are less likely to hit development milestones than other children with SEND.
Among those with any identified SEND, girls from higher-income families were nearly twice as likely to reach GLD compared to FSM-eligible boys in 2023-24.
Among those with any identified SEND, girls from higher-income families were nearly twice as likely to reach GLD compared to FSM-eligible boys in 2023-24.
New data obtained by FOI shows we see the biggest disparities in literacy and numeracy.
Around half of FSM-eligible boys missed the expected level in writing and reading at the end of reception in 2023-24, compared to less than a fifth of girls from higher income families.
Around half of FSM-eligible boys missed the expected level in writing and reading at the end of reception in 2023-24, compared to less than a fifth of girls from higher income families.
November 20, 2025 at 7:41 AM
New data obtained by FOI shows we see the biggest disparities in literacy and numeracy.
Around half of FSM-eligible boys missed the expected level in writing and reading at the end of reception in 2023-24, compared to less than a fifth of girls from higher income families.
Around half of FSM-eligible boys missed the expected level in writing and reading at the end of reception in 2023-24, compared to less than a fifth of girls from higher income families.
Looked at a different way – the gender attainment gap is wider for children from low-income families than it is for their peers from higher-income families. The particular intersection of gender and low-income appears to be creating an additional disadvantage.
November 20, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Looked at a different way – the gender attainment gap is wider for children from low-income families than it is for their peers from higher-income families. The particular intersection of gender and low-income appears to be creating an additional disadvantage.
In 2023-24, nearly 1 in 10 of all reception-aged children were FSM-eligible boys, but most of them were not 'school ready'.
Nearly 3 in 5 did not reach a good level of development (GLD, teacher assessed at age 5) – in contrast only 1 in 5 girls from higher-income families missed this milestone.
Nearly 3 in 5 did not reach a good level of development (GLD, teacher assessed at age 5) – in contrast only 1 in 5 girls from higher-income families missed this milestone.
November 20, 2025 at 7:41 AM
In 2023-24, nearly 1 in 10 of all reception-aged children were FSM-eligible boys, but most of them were not 'school ready'.
Nearly 3 in 5 did not reach a good level of development (GLD, teacher assessed at age 5) – in contrast only 1 in 5 girls from higher-income families missed this milestone.
Nearly 3 in 5 did not reach a good level of development (GLD, teacher assessed at age 5) – in contrast only 1 in 5 girls from higher-income families missed this milestone.
(6) Interestingly, children with SEND or eligible for FSM tend to do better in areas where there are more of them. This could be economies of scale, more effective support where children are less a minority, or for SEND could be areas identifying more kids w SEND who need less support to reach GLD.
March 24, 2025 at 4:32 PM
(6) Interestingly, children with SEND or eligible for FSM tend to do better in areas where there are more of them. This could be economies of scale, more effective support where children are less a minority, or for SEND could be areas identifying more kids w SEND who need less support to reach GLD.
(5) We ran regressions to see which demographic factors best explain local authority variation in the share of children reaching a good level of development (GLD). The share of children with SEND was the strongest predictor, followed by the share of children eligible for free school meals.
March 24, 2025 at 4:32 PM
(5) We ran regressions to see which demographic factors best explain local authority variation in the share of children reaching a good level of development (GLD). The share of children with SEND was the strongest predictor, followed by the share of children eligible for free school meals.
(4) There's only 6 ppts of variation in school readiness between regions, but more when comparing the most deprived parts of regions (9ppts), and most substantial variation (>20ppts) at a local authority level.
March 24, 2025 at 4:32 PM
(4) There's only 6 ppts of variation in school readiness between regions, but more when comparing the most deprived parts of regions (9ppts), and most substantial variation (>20ppts) at a local authority level.
(3) There are major disparities between boys and girls, widest in some lowest-attaining groups. 43% of boys on free school meals achieve a good level of development at age 5, compared to 60% of girls on FSM.
March 24, 2025 at 4:32 PM
(3) There are major disparities between boys and girls, widest in some lowest-attaining groups. 43% of boys on free school meals achieve a good level of development at age 5, compared to 60% of girls on FSM.
(2) School readiness doesn't trend downwards steadily from higher-attaining to lower-attaining groups – it drops off for a cliff for four key groups:
- children on free school meals
- children identifying as Gypsy/Roma
- Travellers of Irish heritage
- children with any SEND.
- children on free school meals
- children identifying as Gypsy/Roma
- Travellers of Irish heritage
- children with any SEND.
March 24, 2025 at 4:32 PM
(2) School readiness doesn't trend downwards steadily from higher-attaining to lower-attaining groups – it drops off for a cliff for four key groups:
- children on free school meals
- children identifying as Gypsy/Roma
- Travellers of Irish heritage
- children with any SEND.
- children on free school meals
- children identifying as Gypsy/Roma
- Travellers of Irish heritage
- children with any SEND.
Key findings:
(1) There are big disparities between school readiness in different demographic groups - summary chart below showing the share of children reaching a 'good level of development' at age 5 in different groups.
(1) There are big disparities between school readiness in different demographic groups - summary chart below showing the share of children reaching a 'good level of development' at age 5 in different groups.
March 24, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Key findings:
(1) There are big disparities between school readiness in different demographic groups - summary chart below showing the share of children reaching a 'good level of development' at age 5 in different groups.
(1) There are big disparities between school readiness in different demographic groups - summary chart below showing the share of children reaching a 'good level of development' at age 5 in different groups.
With thanks to the keen-eyed @milliemitchell.bsky.social for spotting, the government's devolution white paper confirms that it's planning for Spatial Development Strategies to apportion housing targets across constituent authorities.
December 16, 2024 at 2:18 PM
With thanks to the keen-eyed @milliemitchell.bsky.social for spotting, the government's devolution white paper confirms that it's planning for Spatial Development Strategies to apportion housing targets across constituent authorities.
Interesting to see this in the Plan for Change doc.
December 5, 2024 at 5:29 PM
Interesting to see this in the Plan for Change doc.
Huge thanks to the whole @instituteforgov.bsky.social team for invaluable help with this report, including
@jillongovt.bsky.social @drhannahwhite.bsky.social Tom Pope, Nehal Davison, and the brilliant Melissa Ittoo who created the graphics in the report - including this nifty timeline.
@jillongovt.bsky.social @drhannahwhite.bsky.social Tom Pope, Nehal Davison, and the brilliant Melissa Ittoo who created the graphics in the report - including this nifty timeline.
August 30, 2024 at 10:23 AM
Huge thanks to the whole @instituteforgov.bsky.social team for invaluable help with this report, including
@jillongovt.bsky.social @drhannahwhite.bsky.social Tom Pope, Nehal Davison, and the brilliant Melissa Ittoo who created the graphics in the report - including this nifty timeline.
@jillongovt.bsky.social @drhannahwhite.bsky.social Tom Pope, Nehal Davison, and the brilliant Melissa Ittoo who created the graphics in the report - including this nifty timeline.
Why have govts missed the mark?
1. It's not been a consistent priority - for PMs and for secretaries of state. The last 10 housing ministers have averaged 9 months in post...
2. Govts haven't set out a long-term vision, with clear objectives and a credible plan for meeting them.
1. It's not been a consistent priority - for PMs and for secretaries of state. The last 10 housing ministers have averaged 9 months in post...
2. Govts haven't set out a long-term vision, with clear objectives and a credible plan for meeting them.
August 30, 2024 at 10:19 AM
Why have govts missed the mark?
1. It's not been a consistent priority - for PMs and for secretaries of state. The last 10 housing ministers have averaged 9 months in post...
2. Govts haven't set out a long-term vision, with clear objectives and a credible plan for meeting them.
1. It's not been a consistent priority - for PMs and for secretaries of state. The last 10 housing ministers have averaged 9 months in post...
2. Govts haven't set out a long-term vision, with clear objectives and a credible plan for meeting them.
Over the last two decades, every UK government has claimed that housebuilding is a priority - to tackle unaffordability and help first-time buyers on the ladder. There is a strong evidence base that England needs more homes, which we set out in the report's first chapter.
August 30, 2024 at 10:17 AM
Over the last two decades, every UK government has claimed that housebuilding is a priority - to tackle unaffordability and help first-time buyers on the ladder. There is a strong evidence base that England needs more homes, which we set out in the report's first chapter.