GCSE results have risen faster among children from working-class families than they have among the rest of the population.
Education junior minister Ivan Lewis said that between 1995 and 1999, the percentage of pupils in comprehensive schools, whose parents work in manual jobs, achieving five or more A*-C grades rose from 33 per cent to 39 per cent.
During the same period the proportion of pupils from non-manual backgrounds rose just one percentage point. However, even by 1999, the latest year for which figures are available, they remained significantly higher at 60 per cent.
The figures, which apply to England and Wales, were given in response to a question from Labour MP Helen Jones.
Compiled by Jon Slater from Hansard
PQs can be found at www.parliament.uk
