Pupils in West Midlands record among worst GCSE results in the country

Wolverhampton comes out worst of the West Midlands authorities with just 46.4 per cent of pupils achieving five good GCSEs, well below the national average of 56.6 per cent.

They are followed by Walsall with 48.7 per cent of students getting five A*-C qualifications, Sandwell at 50.7 per cent, Dudley with 53.3 per cent and Staffordshire, faring marginally better but still below the UK average, with 54.9 per cent.

The report, which shows more than 70 per cent of London pupils achieving the top grades, illustrates the widening north-south academic map.

The Social Market Foundation compared school test results of children born between born in 1970 and 2000 and found regional differences have become much more significant than parental income.

Pupils' results are highest in London and lowest in Yorkshire and Humber - with the West Midlands coming eighth in a table of 11 regions across the UK.

The comparisons between the generations, based on school tests at primary and secondary level, indicate that geography has become a much more significant factor in how high pupils are likely to achieve.

Councillor Claire Darke, the city's education leader, said: "There does still seem to be a North-South divide when it comes to attainment levels, and as a council this is something we are working hard to address.

"It's important to make it clear that things have improved markedly over the last 12 months – the percentage of pupils gaining 5 or more GCSEs at A*to C including English and maths was up seven per cent in 2015 to 53 per cent, which puts Wolverhampton broadly in line with national outcomes.

"That's a positive improvement and one we hope to build on this year.

"It has to be remembered that we serve some of the most deprived communities in the country and this does have an impact on attainment levels."

For pupils born in 1970, the study says that location was much less of an influence, with a much a stronger link to factors such as social background.

In the mid-1980s, areas such as the south-east and east of England had better results than London but the most recent results show London outstripping the rest of the country. This prompted Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw to warn of a 'North-South divide' in schools.

The latest national figures from the Department for Education put Sandwell in 145th place out of 152 councils for pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C including English and maths, with 46.1 per cent of youngsters achieving the benchmark in the 2015 exams.

Despite an improvement on last year's results, Wolverhampton came 137th in the country, with 48.6 per cent of pupils gaining the required grades, up 2.2 per cent from last year. The national average is 52.8 per cent.

Dudley saw 52.4 per cent of pupils achieving the benchmark, down from 53.3 per cent last year, while in Walsall the figure was up 1.5 per cent to 50.2 per cent.

In Staffordshire 55.3 per cent of youngsters gained five or more GCSEs at A*-C, including English and maths, up from 54.9 per cent in 2014.

The 30-year survey shows a substantial shift in the achievement of ethnic minority pupils. For those born in 1970, who took O-levels in 1985-86, black and Asian pupils' results were considerably below average and behind their white counterparts.

The GCSE results for 2013-14 indicate Indian pupils' results were above average, while Pakistani pupils were below average. Black African pupils were above average and black Caribbean were below.

White pupils were below average, with the weakest results from poor, white boys.

The Social Market Foundation is setting up a commission on inequalities in educational achievement, which will be chaired by Nick Clegg, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats.