Data set from Level 2 and 3 attainment age 16 to 25

Attainment by characteristics - ages 16 to 25

Latest data
Published
Last updated
Includes characteristics such as sex, Free School Meal (FSM) eligibility, disadvantaged status, ethnicity, Special Educational Need (SEN) and Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI). State sector only.

Data set details

Theme
School and college outcomes and performance
Publication
Level 2 and 3 attainment age 16 to 25
Release
Academic year 2023/24
Release type
Geographic levels
National
Indicators
  • Number
  • Number in state sector cohort
  • Percentage
Filters
  • Age
  • Characteristic
  • Institution Type
Time period
2007/08 to 2026/27

Data set preview

Table showing first 5 rows, from underlying data
time_periodtime_identifiergeographic_levelcountry_codecountry_nameagecohort_age_inbreakdown_topicbreakdownqualification_levelqualification_typeinstitution_typesubjectnumber_in_ss_cohortnumberpercentage
200708Academic yearNationalE92000001Englandby age 16200405Ethnicity MajorAny other ethnic groupLevel 2Total Level 2TotalTotal5078263151.812
200708Academic yearNationalE92000001Englandby age 16200405Ethnicity MajorAny other ethnic groupLevel 3Total Level 3TotalTotal507830.059
200708Academic yearNationalE92000001Englandby age 16200405Ethnicity MajorAny other ethnic groupLevel 2GCSETotalAttained Level 2 English5078248448.917
200708Academic yearNationalE92000001Englandby age 16200405Ethnicity MajorAny other ethnic groupLevel 2Total (GCSE and other equivalent)TotalAttained Level 2 English5078249049.035
200708Academic yearNationalE92000001Englandby age 16200405Ethnicity MajorAny other ethnic groupLevel 2GCSETotalAttained Level 2 Maths5078248148.858

Variables in this data set

Table showing first 5 of 7 variables
Variable nameVariable description
ageAge - The academic year shown is the year in which the young person has turned (or will turn) 19, irrespective of the age selected. 19 not 16 refers to young people who had not achieved at 16 but had achieved by 19.
breakdownCharacteristic
institution_typeInstitution Type - Institution type only available for age 19 not 16 at level 2 and age 19 at level 3.
numberNumber
number_in_ss_cohortNumber in state sector cohort

Footnotes

  1. In these statistics AS levels count for 25% of Level 3 and can be aggregated, so that four AS levels or two AS levels and one A level (which counts as 50% of Level 3) are counted as achievement of Level 3.
  2. Figures for disadvantage only available from 2016/17 onwards due to changes in measurement.
  3. Figures for English and maths are based on those educated in the mainstream state-funded sector in year 11, therefore overall attainment rates differ to headline measures (see the 'About this publication' section) although trends are comparable.
  4. Condition of Funding changes for young people were introduced by the Education and Skills Funding Agency from 2014/15 onwards. This has resulted in most students having to study English and/or maths at level 2 as part of their programmes between the ages of 16 and 19 if they are yet to achieve qualifications at this level.
  5. These figures are based on qualifications prioritised by age first achieved
  6. Figures for pupil characteristics are based on those educated in the mainstream state-funded sector in year 11, therefore overall attainment rates differ to headline measures (see the 'About this publication' section) although trends are comparable.
  7. Attainment gaps refer to the difference in attainment between one characteristic group and another. 1) Special Educational Need (SEN) gap: between those with and without SEN, with non-SEN individuals typically having higher attainment; 2) Free School Meal (FSM) gap: between those eligible and not eligible for FSM, with those not eligible for FSM typically having higher attainment; 3) Disadvantage gap: between those deemed disadvantaged (see methodology) and those not disadvantaged, with those not disadvantaged typically having higher attainment; 4) Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) gap: between the 25% most deprived and the 25% least deprived, with the 25% least deprived typically having higher attainment; 5) Gap between males and females, with females typically having higher attainment.
  8. See accompanying methodology for definitions of characteristics.
  9. Other institution includes any institution not covered by the other categories e.g. special schools and where institution information was missing.
  10. All state-funded schools include converter academies, free schools, maintained schools, sponsor academies and city technical colleges.
  11. Institution type for post-16 study is only available for those who have attained level 2/3. Percentages are therefore given as the proportion of the total number in the cohort. These percentages sum to the overall proportion attaining and do not provide attainment rates of the institution type itself.
  12. Decoupling of AS and A levels refers to reforms made from September 2015 where they became standalone linear qualifications and the AS no longer counts towards the A level. See https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/as-and-a-level-decoupling (opens in a new tab).
  13. There were alternative methods of awarding qualifications during the Covid-19 pandemic when traditional exams and assessments were cancelled. In 2020, centre assessed grades (CAGs) (opens in a new tab) were used and in 2021, teacher assessed grades (TAGs) (opens in a new tab). There were also some adaptations to exams in 2022 (opens in a new tab)to ensure fairness for students.

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