What percentage of children on free school meals gain 5 A*-C GCSEs, according to the material?

• A. 33%
• B. 50%
• C. 70%
• D. 90%

Answer: (A)

The question tests understanding of how well disadvantaged students perform on a key GCSE benchmark and what this reveals about attainment gaps. The material states that about one in three children on free school meals reach the target of gaining 5 A*-C GCSEs including English and Maths. In other words, roughly 33%. This demonstrates a substantial gap in high-level attainment between disadvantaged students and the broader student population, highlighting how socio-economic factors can influence GCSE outcomes. The other percentage options would imply much higher success among free school meals pupils than the material supports, so they don’t fit the data.