Academic year 2020/21

Key stage 4 destination measures

Data guidance

Published

Description

This document describes the data included in the ‘KS4 destination measures: 2019/20’ Official Statistics release’s underlying data files. This data is released under the terms of the Open Government License (opens in a new tab) and is intended to meet at least 3 stars for Open Data (opens in a new tab).

The publication methodology, available on the publication report, 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 release provides information on destinations from:

  • state-funded mainstream schools
  • state-funded special schools (including non-maintained special schools)
  • alternative provision

This information is based on data from the National Pupil Database and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes dataset.

File formats and conventions

The Code of Practice for Statistics requires us to take reasonable steps to ensure that our published or disseminated statistics protect confidentiality. Where appropriate we apply disclosure control to protect confidentiality. 

The following symbols have been used in this publication: 

( 0 ) zero 

( c ) small number suppressed to preserve confidentiality or for accountability reasons 

( z ) not applicable 

(x) not available

( low ) positive % less than 0.5 

Small cohorts 

At institutional level, where cohorts are less than 6, all data are suppressed. This is to ensure that schools are not held to account for small cohorts of pupils rather than for confidentiality reasons. 

This does not apply to levels of data other than institutional level.

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.

Key stage 4 national level destinations

Filename
ks4_dm_ud_202021_nat_rev.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2010/11 to 2020/21
Content

National level destinations data for students leaving key stage 4 for different characteristic groups, provider types, and qualification levels.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
all_notsustNot recorded as a sustained destination
all_unknownActivity not captured
all_workSustained employment destination
appl2Intermediate apprenticeships (level 2)
appl3Advanced and Higher apprenticeships (level 3 and above)
apprenSustained apprenticeships
appruAlternative provision
characteristicStudent characteristics
cohortNumber of pupils completing key stage 4
data_typeData type
edu_comboSustained education combination destination
educationSustained education destination
feFurther education
heUK higher education institution
indIndependent schools
inst_countNumber of institutions
institution_typeInstitution group
notsustEducation or employment not sustained
notsust_beneetEducation or employment not sustained and known to be NEET
only_beneetNo participation and known to be NEET
other_eduOther education destination
overallSustained education, employment & apprenticeships
sfcSixth form college
specialSpecial school
spiSpecialist post-16 institution
ssfSchool sixth form
unknownNot identified in any data
unknown_idIdentified as DWP/HMRC customer
Footnotes
  1. Disadvantaged pupils include pupils known to be eligible for free school meals (FSM) in any spring, autumn, summer, alternative provision or pupil referral unit census from year 6 to year 11 or that are looked after children for at least one day or are adopted from care.
  2. Includes all non-selective schools in local authorities with a high level of selection (where 25% or more of state-funded secondary places are in state-funded selective schools). These local authorities are Bexley, Buckinghamshire, Kent, Lincolnshire, Medway, Poole, Slough, Southend-on-Sea, Sutton, Torbay, Trafford and Wirral. See the Quality and methodology information document for more details.
  3. Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) was added as a new type of need in 2014/15; the previous type of need Behaviour, Emotional and Social Difficulties has been removed although it is not expected that SEMH will be a direct replacement.
  4. Includes state-funded mainstream schools, state-funded and non-maintained special schools, and alternative provision.
  5. At the end of key stage 4 pupils are expected to achieve 'good passes' at grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSEs or selected equivalents. The figures for student achievement of grade 4 or above in both English and maths are shown alongside this measure for transparency and comparability. This measure is chosen because passes in English and maths will continue to be assessed in future years and because passes in these subjects tie closely to conditions for post-16 funding and accountability. Prior to the introduction of the reformed 9 to 1 GCSEs in English and maths in 2016/17, a 'good pass' was classed as an A*-C grade.
  6. Other education destinations include independent schools, specialist post-16 institutions, special schools and education combination destination.
  7. Includes all non-selective schools that are not in highly selective areas, including those in areas with some selection.
  8. Local authority maintained mainstream schools include community schools, voluntary aided schools, voluntary controlled schools and foundation schools.
  9. State place funded alternative provision includes pupil referral units, AP academies, AP free schools and hospital schools.
  10. Following special educational needs and disability (SEND) reforms in 2014/15, SEN pupils are categorised as 'SEN with a statement or Education, health and care (EHC) plan' and 'SEN support'. SEN support replaces school action and school action plus (grouped as SEN without a statement up to and including 2013/14). It was expected that all transfers to this category take place during the 2014/15 academic year but some legacy categories remain in subsequent cohorts. More detailed information on the reforms can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25
  11. Selective schools admit pupils wholly or mainly with reference to ability. These schools are formally designated as grammar schools.
  12. State-funded schools include local authority maintained schools, academies, free schools, city technology colleges, further education colleges with provision for 14- to 16-year-olds, state-funded special schools and non-maintained special schools.
  13. Includes state place funded alternative provision (Pupil Referral Units, AP academies, AP free schools, and hospital schools) and other alternative provision (education funded by the local authority outside of state place funded schools, including independent schools, non-maintained special schools, and providers that do not meet the criteria for registration as a school).
  14. Includes pupils for whom ethnicity or first language was not obtained, refused or could not be determined.
  15. Includes 'not known but believed to be other than English'. Pupils are included if their main language is other than English regardless of fluency in English.
  16. Since September 2013, general further education colleges and sixth-form colleges have been able to directly enrol 14- to 16-year-olds. Excludes city technology colleges.
  17. Key stage 2 assessments are taken in year 6 at the end of primary school. To be at the expected level pupils must have reached level 4 or above in all three areas and to be considered above the expected standard pupils to have achieved level 5 or 6 in all three areas. Due to a boycott of standardised testing in 2010, a higher proportion of 2015 leavers has no prior attainment recorded.
  18. Includes state-funded special schools (community special schools, foundation special schools, special sponsored academies, special converter academies, and special free schools) and non-maintained special schools.
  19. This includes pupils who were captured in the source data and had some participation in the academic year but did not complete the required six months sustained participation.
  20. Includes pupils for whom free school meal eligibility, pupil premium eligibility, or special educational need (SEN) provision could not be determined.
  21. The student was not found to have any participation in education, apprenticeship or employment nor recorded as receiving out-of-work benefits at any point in the year. Possible reasons for this could be that the pupil was living, working or studying abroad or was attending a Scottish or Welsh college or school.
  22. Other alternative provision includes education funded by the local authority outside of state place funded schools, including independent schools, non-maintained special schools, and providers who do not meet the criteria for registration as a school.
  23. State-funded mainstream schools include community schools, voluntary aided schools, voluntary controlled schools, foundation schools, academies, free schools, city technology colleges and further education colleges with provision for 14- to 16-year-olds.

Key stage 4 local authority level destinations

Filename
ks4_dm_ud_202021_la_rev.csv
Geographic levels
Local authority; Local authority district; Opportunity area; Parliamentary constituency; Regional
Time period
2010/11 to 2020/21
Content

Destinations data for students leaving key stage 4 by different geography levels

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
all_notsustNot recorded as a sustained destination
all_unknownActivity not captured
all_workSustained employment destination
appl2Intermediate apprenticeships (level 2)
appl3Advanced and Higher apprenticeships (level 3 and above)
apprenSustained apprenticeships
characteristicStudent characteristic
cohortNumber of pupils completing key stage 4
data_typeData type
educationSustained education destination
feFurther education
institution_groupInstitution group
level_methodologyLevel based on LEA area or provider location
other_eduOther education destination
overallSustained education, employment & apprenticeships
sfcSixth form college
ssfSchool sixth form
Footnotes
  1. Other education destinations include independent schools, specialist post-16 institutions, special schools and education combination destination.
  2. Following special educational needs and disability (SEND) reforms in 2014/15, SEN pupils are categorised as 'SEN with a statement or Education, health and care (EHC) plan' and 'SEN support'. SEN support replaces school action and school action plus (grouped as SEN without a statement up to and including 2013/14). It was expected that all transfers to this category take place during the 2014/15 academic year but some legacy categories remain in subsequent cohorts. More detailed information on the reforms can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25
  3. State-funded schools include local authority maintained schools, academies, free schools, city technology colleges, further education colleges with provision for 14- to 16-year-olds, state-funded special schools and non-maintained special schools.
  4. Includes state place funded alternative provision (Pupil Referral Units, AP academies, AP free schools, and hospital schools) and other alternative provision (education funded by the local authority outside of state place funded schools, including independent schools, non-maintained special schools, and providers that do not meet the criteria for registration as a school).
  5. Includes state-funded special schools (community special schools, foundation special schools, special sponsored academies, special converter academies, and special free schools) and non-maintained special schools.
  6. This includes pupils who were captured in the source data and had some participation in the academic year but did not complete the required six months sustained participation.
  7. The student was not found to have any participation in education, apprenticeship or employment nor recorded as receiving out-of-work benefits at any point in the year. Possible reasons for this could be that the pupil was living, working or studying abroad or was attending a Scottish or Welsh college or school.
  8. State-funded mainstream schools include community schools, voluntary aided schools, voluntary controlled schools, foundation schools, academies, free schools, city technology colleges and further education colleges with provision for 14- to 16-year-olds.

Key stage 4 headline data

Filename
ks4_dm_ud_202021_nat_rev_headline.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2020/21
Content

National level destinations headline data for students leaving key stage 4 study for different characteristic groups, provider types, and qualification levels.

Variable names and descriptions

Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:

Variable nameVariable description
all_notsustNot recorded as a sustained destination
all_unknownActivity not captured
all_workSustained employment destination
appl2Intermediate apprenticeships (level 2)
appl3Advanced and Higher apprenticeships (level 3 and above)
apprenSustained apprenticeships
appruAlternative provision
cohortNumber of pupils completing key stage 4
edu_comboSustained education combination destination
educationSustained education destination
feFurther education
heUK higher education institution
indIndependent schools
inst_countNumber of institutions
notsustEducation or employment not sustained
notsust_beneetEducation or employment not sustained and known to be NEET
only_beneetNo participation and known to be NEET
other_eduOther education destination
overallSustained education, employment & apprenticeships
sfcSixth form college
specialSpecial school
spiSpecialist post-16 institution
ssfSchool sixth form
unknownNot identified in any data
unknown_idIdentified as DWP/HMRC customer
Footnotes
  1. Other education destinations include independent schools, specialist post-16 institutions, special schools and education combination destination.
  2. This includes pupils who were captured in the source data and had some participation in the academic year but did not complete the required six months sustained participation.
  3. The student was not found to have any participation in education, apprenticeship or employment nor recorded as receiving out-of-work benefits at any point in the year. Possible reasons for this could be that the pupil was living, working or studying abroad or was attending a Scottish or Welsh college or school.