Academic year 2024/25

Key stage 2 attainment: National headlines

Data guidance

Published

Description

This file contains key stage 2 national level data on the percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard and achieving the higher standard ("greater depth" in writing teacher assessment) in: 

  • reading, writing and maths
  • reading test
  • maths test 
  • grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS) test 
  • writing teacher assessment
  • science teacher assessment.

It also includes national average scaled scores for reading, maths, and grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS).

The publication methodology, linked to at the bottom of the publication, should be referenced alongside this data. It provides information on the data sources, their coverage and quality, as well as explaining methodology used in producing the data. 

Coverage

This publication provides information on assessment outcomes at the end of key stage 2 for all schools. 

File formats and conventions

This dataset has been rounded to 0 decimal places. 

Data files

All data files associated with this releases are listed below with guidance on their content. To download any of these files, please visit our data catalogue.

Combinations of attainment at the expected standard in reading, writing and maths

Filename
ks2_pupils_meeting_the_expected_standard_combinations_2019_to_2025.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2018/19 to 2024/25
Content
This file contains data to show the combinations of meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths for all pupils.
Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
count_at_least_one_below_the_standard_of_the_testNot assessed in at least 1 subject: Number of pupils working below the standard of the test in at least one subject
count_maths_met_exp_reading_and_writing_not_met_expAssessed and meeting expected standard in 1 subject: Number of pupils meeting the expected standard in maths but not in reading and writing
count_non_assessedNot assessed in at least 1 subject: Total number
count_not_met_expected_standard_reading_and_writing_and_mathsAssessed and meeting expected standard in 0 subjects: Number of pupils not meeting the expected standard in all 3 subjects
count_other_combinationsNot assessed in at least 1 subject: Number all other combinations
count_reading_and_maths_met_exp_writing_not_met_expAssessed and meeting expected standard in 2 subjects: Number of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading and maths but not in writing TA
count_reading_and_writing_met_exp_maths_not_expAssessed and meeting expected standard in 2 subjects: Number of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading and writing but not in maths
count_reading_met_exp_writing_and_maths_not_met_expAssessed and meeting expected standard in 1 subject: Number of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading but not in writing and maths
count_rwm_met_expected_standardAssessed and meeting expected standard in 3 subjects: Number of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (combined)
count_total_met_in_1Assessed and meeting expected standard in 1 subjects: Number of pupils meeting the expected standard in 1 subject
count_total_met_in_2Assessed and meeting expected standard in 2 subjects: Number of pupils meeting the expected standard in 2 subjects
count_writing_and_maths_met_exp_reading_not_metAssessed and meeting expected standard in 2 subjects: Number of pupils meeting the expected standard in writing and maths but not in reading
count_writing_met_exp_reading_and_maths_not_met_expAssessed and meeting expected standard in 1 subject: Number of pupils meeting the expected standard in writing but not in reading and maths
pt_at_least_one_below_the_standard_of_the_testNot assessed in at least 1 subject: Percentage of pupils working below the standard of the test in at least one subject
pt_maths_met_exp_reading_and_writing_not_met_expAssessed and meeting expected standard in 1 subject: Percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard in maths but not in reading and writing
pt_non_assessedNot assessed in at least 1 subject: Total percentage
pt_not_met_expected_standard_reading_and_writing_and_mathsAssessed and meeting expected standard in 0 subjects: Percentage of pupils not meeting the expected standard in all 3 subjects
pt_other_combinationsNot assessed in at least 1 subject: Percentage all other combinations
pt_reading_and_maths_met_exp_writing_not_met_expAssessed and meeting expected standard in 2 subjects: Percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading and maths but not in writing TA
pt_reading_and_writing_met_exp_maths_not_expAssessed and meeting expected standard in 2 subjects: Percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading and writing but not in maths
pt_reading_met_exp_writing_and_maths_not_met_expAssessed and meeting expected standard in 1 subject: Percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading but not in writing and maths
pt_rwm_met_expected_standardAssessed and meeting expected standard in 3 subjects: Percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (combined)
pt_total_met_in_1Assessed and meeting expected standard in 1 subjects: Percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard in 1 subject
pt_total_met_in_2Assessed and meeting expected standard in 2 subjects: Percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard in 2 subjects
pt_writing_and_maths_met_exp_reading_not_metAssessed and meeting expected standard in 2 subjects: Percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard in writing and maths but not in reading
pt_writing_met_exp_reading_and_maths_not_met_expAssessed and meeting expected standard in 1 subject: Percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard in writing but not in reading and maths
total_rwm_eligible_pupilsTotal pupils eligible for reading, writing and maths (combined)
Footnotes
  1. Includes pupils who reached the expected standard in all of reading, writing and maths. The expected standard in reading and maths is a scaled score of 100 or above. The expected standard in writing is a teacher assessment of 'working at the expected standard' or 'working at greater depth'.
  2. Includes all schools with pupils eligible for assessment at key stage 2. Participation by independent schools is voluntary, therefore figures include results from independent schools that chose to submit data and met the requirements for assessment and moderation.
  3. Data is not available for 2020 and 2021 as assessments were cancelled in these years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  4. Figures for 2025 are based on provisional data. Figures for other years are based on final data.

Key stage 2 national headlines 2016 to 2025

Filename
ks2_national_headline_figures_2016_2025.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2015/16 to 2024/25
Content
This file contains national level data on the percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard and achieving the higher standard ("greater depth" in writing teacher assessment) in key stage 2 assessments in England.
Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
avg_gpsscoreAverage scaled score in grammar, punctuation and spelling
avg_matscoreAverage scaled score in maths
avg_readscoreAverage scaled score in reading
pt_gps_expPercentage meeting the expected standard in grammar, punctuation and spelling
pt_gps_highPercentage meeting the higher standard in grammar, punctuation and spelling
pt_mat_expPercentage meeting the expected standard in maths
pt_mat_highPercentage meeting the higher standard in maths
pt_read_expPercentage meeting the expected standard in reading
pt_read_highPercentage meeting the higher standard in reading
pt_rwm_expPercentage meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (combined)
pt_rwm_highPercentage meeting the higher standard in reading, writing and maths (combined)
pt_scita_expPercentage meeting the expected standard in science TA
pt_writta_expPercentage meeting the expected standard in writing TA
pt_writta_gdPercentage working at greater depth in writing TA
Footnotes
  1. Includes pupils who reached the expected standard in all of reading, writing and maths. The expected standard in reading and maths is a scaled score of 100 or above. The expected standard in writing is a teacher assessment of 'working at the expected standard' or 'working at greater depth'.
  2. Includes all schools with pupils eligible for assessment at key stage 2. Participation by independent schools is voluntary, therefore figures include results from independent schools that chose to submit data and met the requirements for assessment and moderation.
  3. Data is not available for 2020 and 2021 as assessments were cancelled in these years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  4. Figures for 2025 are based on provisional data. Figures for other years are based on final data.
  5. Scaled scores range from 80 to 120. The average scaled score only includes pupils who took the test and achieved a scaled score.
  6. Attainment in science is not directly comparable to 2016, 2017 and 2018 because of changes to science teacher assessment frameworks in 2019.
  7. Attainment in writing is not directly comparable to 2016 and 2017 because of changes to writing teacher assessment frameworks in 2018.
  8. The expected standard in the reading, maths and grammar, punctuation and spelling tests is a scaled score of 100 or above. The expected standard in writing is a teacher assessment of 'working at the expected standard' or 'working at greater depth'. The expected standard in science is a teacher assessment of 'working at the expected standard'.
  9. Attainment in all of reading, writing and maths is not directly comparable to 2016 and 2017 because of changes to writing teacher assessment frameworks in 2018.