Data set from A level and other 16 to 18 results

Retention - student characteristics and disadvantage status

Latest data

Published 18 April 2024

Last updated 18 April 2024

Retention metrics for all qualification cohorts, by a combination of disadvantage status and other student characteristics.

Other student characteristics include gender, ethnicity, first language, special educational needs (SEN) provision, and KS4 prior attainment.

Data set details

Theme: School and college outcomes and performance
Publication: A level and other 16 to 18 results
Release: Academic year 2022/23
Release type
Geographic levels: National
Indicators: % retained
% retained and assessed
% returned and retained for a second year
Filters: Characteristic
Characteristic disadvantage
Cohort
Time period: 2018/19 to 2022/23

Table showing first 5 rows, from underlying data
time_period	time_identifier	geographic_level	country_code	country_name	version	characteristic_type	characteristic_value	characteristic_disadvantage	exam_cohort	level_of_study	student_count_year_1	student_count_year_2	retained	retained_and_assessed	returned_and_retained	perc_retained	perc_retained_and_assessed	perc_returned_and_retained
201819	Academic year	National	E92000001	England	Revised	Gender	Female	Disadvantaged	A level	Level 3	22589	22305	19438	18795	17154	86.051	83.204	76.907
201920	Academic year	National	E92000001	England	Final	Gender	Female	Disadvantaged	A level	Level 3	21104	20656	18396	17922	16957	87.168	84.922	82.092
202021	Academic year	National	E92000001	England	Final	Gender	Female	Disadvantaged	A level	Level 3	19015	18777	17161	16962	16538	90.25	89.203	88.076
202122	Academic year	National	E92000001	England	Revised	Gender	Female	Disadvantaged	A level	Level 3	19039	18956	17310	17088	16895	90.919	89.753	89.127
202223	Academic year	National	E92000001	England	Revised	Gender	Female	Disadvantaged	A level	Level 3	19579	19462	17234	16945	16756	88.023	86.547	86.096

Table showing first 5 of 8 variables
Variable name	Variable description
characteristic_disadvantage	Characteristic disadvantage
characteristic_value	Characteristic
exam_cohort	Cohort
perc_retained	% retained
perc_retained_and_assessed	% retained and assessed

Figures for the total number of students may not match the sum of females and males, as not all institutions recorded the gender for every student.
Disadvantage status is as reported at the end of key stage 4. Analysis involving disadvantage status includes students at state-funded schools and colleges only.
EHC plans and statements of SEN are legal documents which detail the needs of the individual student, and the assistance they are to receive.
A change to the trigger rules was introduced in 2020/21 such that students were no longer automatically reported after two years in 16-18 study. The introduction caused a fall in cohort size, particular within the vocational and technical cohorts. A full impact analysis can be found in the <a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/methodology/a-level-and-other-16-to-18-results">methodology document</a>.

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