YOUNG people from disadvantaged backgrounds are more than twice as likely to not be in sustained work or education five years after taking GCSEs compared to wealthier peers, new research suggests.

The “destinations gap” grows significantly in the years after students sit those exams, education charity Teach First said today.

Students in England and Wales receive their GCSE results on Wednesday.

Teach First analysis of Department for Education (DfE) data showed that a year after taking GCSEs, almost 12 per cent of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in England are not in any form of sustained education, apprenticeship or employment destination.

This compares with less than 4 per cent of non-disadvantaged pupils, an 8 per cent difference. After three years this rises to 14 per cent and at the five-year mark is up to 19 per cent, the charity said.

Almost a third of disadvantaged pupils are not in any form of sustained education, apprenticeship or employment five years after GCSEs, compared with 14 per cent of their non-disadvantaged peers, Teach First said.

The charity called for pupil premium funding, which aims to improve education outcomes for disadvantaged pupils up to the age of 16 in schools in England, to be introduced for 16 to 19-year-olds.

Teach First chief executive Russell Hobby said it “cannot be right” that pupils from poorer families are significantly less likely to have the same employment or education opportunities.

He said: “The destinations gap is a priority for the future of our young people — and the prosperity of our country.

“We urge the new prime minister to tackle inequality in education — to ensure every child is given a fighting chance of a bright future.

“It’s not just a matter of fairness — our country’s long-term prosperity depends on the skills of the next generation of young people.”

Chalk Hills Academy headteacher Raza Ali said: “Due to inflation, we can’t afford to increase our teachers’ pay and provide all our GCSE level pupils with laptops for revision.

“We need to give our young people the best chance of succeeding in the future.

“If we don’t tackle this issue now, it’ll be our society that suffers in the future.”

A spokeswoman for the DfE said that the number of 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training is at a record low.