Will the Minister outline what the Welsh Government is doing to close the attainment gap in Wales?
As noted in my previous response to your written questions on 18 December, tackling the impact of poverty on educational attainment is at the heart of our national mission in education. I published a roadmap for High Standards and Aspirations for All on 21 March 2023. I provided further detail on progress when I gave my Oral Statement on 28 March 2023 and the Senedd debate on poverty and attainment on 10 January.
In relation to Key Stage 4 examinations, in the Capped 9 indicator, pupils not eligible for Free School meals score higher than pupils who are eligible by 87.1 points.
As far as the difference between England and Wales, education in Wales was found to be more equitable than the OECD average, and than in other UK countries, as the attainment gap between more disadvantaged learners and less disadvantaged learners is smaller.