A greater number of children in poorer areas reported falling behind classmates because of Covid-19 and lockdowns than those in less deprived areas.

Data released on Friday revealed 42 per cent of GCSE students in the most deprived areas said they fell behind due to Covid “disruption” compared with 26 per cent in more affluent areas.

By the third national lockdown in England, in 2021, young people in the most deprived areas were also less likely to report that their school had provided real-time online learning. Eighty-one per cent told the Office for National Statistics (ONS) that their school had done so, compared with 93 per cent in the least deprived areas.

The ONS said this might suggest schools in less deprived areas faced fewer barriers in improving their online provision compared with schools in more deprived areas.