[holding answer 14 November 2007]: The available information showing the proportions of children claiming free school meals who achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C is given in the following table:
Proportion of those claiming free school meals achieving 5 GCSE passes at grades A*-C (Percentage) 2002(final) 23.0 2003 24.4 2004 26.1 2005 29.9 2006 33.0 Source: National Pupil Database
This information is not available prior to 2002. Information on the numbers of children claiming free school meals and achieving five or more GCSEs is not readily available for all years.
These figures are compiled from a series of SFRs titled “National Curriculum Assessment, GCSE and Equivalent Attainment and Post-16 Attainment by Pupil Characteristics”. The latest published information is for 2005/06. Final data and can be found at:
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgatewav/DB/SFR/s000708/index.shtml
Provisional information for 2007 is scheduled for publication on 27 November in SFR 38/2007 which can be found at:
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgatewav/DB/SFR/s000759/index.shtml.