School Minister David Laws has written to Surrey County Council saying they must do more to narrow the gap between the poorest pupils and their peers.
The letter, sent to 14 other councils, has been sent following the release of the key stage 2 results on December 13.
The gap between children on free school meals and those not on free school meals in Surrey achieving at least level four in both English and maths at age 11 is one of the largest in England at 26 per cent.
More than 84 per cent of non-free school meal children aged 11 in Surrey reached at least level four in both English and maths, with only 58 per cent of those receiving free school meals achieving the level.
Mr Laws acknowledged the small improvements in the performance of schools in Surrey County Council in these measures but said the rate of progress was “much smaller” than in other areas.
He has asked the council to write to him with thoughts on what had made a difference in the past year, and what actions they are taking to ensure that this progress continued.
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