increasingly so

[Maybo]

The 10% not reaching the expected level at age 7 becomes 20% by age 11 and, in 2011, 36% did not gain grade C at GCSE. Pupils known to be eligible for free school meals achieve markedly less well than their peers and increasingly so as they move through their schooling.(Mathematics: made to measure by OFSTED.gov.uk)

Is "so" referring to the numbers of "Pupils known to be eligible for free school meals achieve markedly less well than their peers"?

Therefore, "increasingly so" means the numbers increase. Am I correct?

[Charlie Bernstein]

The 10% not reaching the expected level at age 7 become 20% by age 11 and, in 2011, 36% did not gain grade C at GCSE. Pupils known to be eligible for free school meals achieve markedly less well than their peers and increasingly so as they move through their schooling.(Mathematics: made to measure by OFSTED.gov.uk)

Is "so" referring to the numbers of "Pupils known to be eligible for free school meals achieve markedly less well than their peers"?

Therefore, "increasingly so" means the numbers increase. Am I correct?

Yes.

It's confusing because it's poorly written. I would have said less, not so.

[emsr2d2]

"achieve markedly less well" is terrible English!

I would remove the "and" before "increasingly so" and change it to a semi-colon followed by "this is".

[Maybo]

"achieve markedly less well" is terrible English!

I would remove the "and" before "increasingly so" and change it to a semi-colon followed by "this is".

Do you mean "...than their peers; this is increasingly so as they move through..."?

[emsr2d2]

Yes.

[jutfrank]

Therefore, "increasingly so" means the numbers increase. Am I correct?

What numbers?

It means that the effect (of doing less well than their peers) becomes more pronounced as those pupils move through the system.

In other words, the difference in average exam results between students eligible for free school meals and those ineligible is marked at the beginning of schooling, and becomes greater as schooling continues.