Bridget Phillipson admitted that the "state has failed white working-class pupils", as students open up their GCSE results today.
The Education Secretary said 80 per cent of children from white working-class backgrounds have been falling short in English and maths skills.
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Ms Phillipson said the demographic had been "let down", pointing to the UK's productivity falling as a consequence.
She said: "There is one statistic that stands above the rest. In 2024, only 19 per cent of white British, working-class children achieved a strong pass in maths and English GCSE.
"This data goes back to 2017. Alarmingly, it looks almost identical today to how it did then."
Writing in the Telegraph, Ms Phillipson called the numbers "appalling", insisting that she will not stand by and watch them grow.
She stated: "It's not just the life chances of those children that are being damaged - it's also the health of our society as a whole. Swathes of human capability and productivity lost."
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said white working-class pupils had been 'let down'
| PAThe Education Secretary voiced her concerns that white working-class children were being "written off" by society, with her comments suggesting the let-down is harming the economy.
Since the 2008 financial crisis, productivity levels have remained low, with many attributing this to slow economic growth.
Officials are concerned that failure to support young people with the necessary skills will exacerbate the problem.
This year's GCSE results are expected to show a similar pattern to last year, when more than a fifth of all entries were awarded the top grades.
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Ms Phillipson said: "Young people from the best schools will be collecting their results this week not only with a world of opportunity ahead, but with experiences that will last a lifetime behind.
"A rich school experience built on strong academic foundations, with sport, music, the arts not a 'nice to have', but woven into the fabric of their education.
"But while this country is a good place to go to school, good isn't good enough. The images on television and the headline statistics we'll see this week mask the reality of a system that works for some children - even most children - but continues to let down tens of thousands more."
Over 147,000 pupils were classed as severely absent in the autumn term of 2024, meaning they missed at least half of their classes.
This marked the highest rate of an autumn term since comparable data began in 2016.
In 2024, only 19 per cent of white British, working-class children achieved a strong pass in maths and English
| PAThe proportion of GCSE students awarded top grades has risen from last year, but fewer GCSE entries scored a good pass this year.
Figures show 21.9 per cent of UK entries were awarded the top grades of at least a 7 or an A grade this year, up by 0.1 per cent from last year.
However, the proportion of entries getting at least a 4 or a C grade, considered a "standard pass" has fallen by 0.2 per cent to 67.4 per cent this year.
Nearly 24.5 per cent of girls' entries were awarded at least a grade 7, compared to 19.4 per cent.
This does mark the smallest gap between the two genders so far this century.
Minister for School Standards Catherine McKinnell told GB News: "This is a very exciting day and nerve-wracking. This will be a celebration for lots of young people; they should be really proud.
"For those that don't quite get what they expect, I think schools are doing a really good job in supporting young people to find opportunities for them... there are so many opportunities, and we want young people to grab them."
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