The key social care groups referred to in this section are ‘at 31 March’.
Within this release comparisons are made with 2023 and with 2019. We will compare to 2023 due to it being last year’s data, and to 2019 because it was the last year that summer exams were taken before the COVID-19 pandemic. Users need to exercise extreme caution when considering comparisons over time, as they may not reflect changes in pupil performance alone.
For more information see the Key Stage 4 attainment statistical release.
Summary
Pupils in the key social care groups have lower attainment than the overall pupil population across all Key Stage 4 attainment measures. However, children looked after and children in need have a higher percentage with a special educational need (SEN) than the overall pupil population and pupils with SEN have been recorded to have lower attainment outcomes compared to the overall population. As such, the higher prevalence of SEN amongst children looked after and children in need accounts for some of the difference in attainment compared to the overall pupil population.
Attainment 8
Attainment 8 measures the average achievement of pupils in up to 8 qualifications. This includes: English language; English literature (if only one GCSE in English is taken then it is double weighted); mathematics (double weighted); three further qualifications that count in the English Baccalaureate (EBacc); and three further qualifications that can be GCSE qualifications (including EBacc subjects) or any other non-GCSE qualification on the DfE approved list (opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab).
From 2018, Attainment 8 had a maximum point score of 90, compared to a maximum of 87 in 2017 and 80 in 2016. This is a consequence of the phased introduction of reformed GCSEs graded on the 9-1 scale. These differences should be considered when comparing Attainment 8 scores before 2019.
The average Attainment 8 scores have decreased for pupils in all key social care groups and the overall pupil population compared to 2022/23 and are also lower than in 2018/19. The CPPO key social care group have the largest decrease since 2018/19.
As in 2022/23, the average Attainment 8 scores in 2023/24 for all key social care groups were less than half of the overall pupil population. The attainment of pupils in the key social care groups in 2023/24 was broadly similar, except for lower attainment for CLA less than 12 months.
Attainment 8 by SEN
For pupils with SEN, the average Attainment 8 score in all key social care groups is less than half of the overall pupil population and is similar for those with an EHC plan. For SEN support and no identified SEN, this difference to the overall pupil population is slightly less.
Attainment 8 by ethnicity
Average Attainment 8 scores vary by ethnicity and key social care group.
For the overall pupil population and CPPO, Asian or Asian British pupils have the highest average Attainment 8 scores.
For CLA for at least 12 months, Black, African, Caribbean, or Black British pupils have the highest average Attainment 8 score.
For CLA less than 12 months, CIN and CINO, pupils with Unknown ethnicity have the highest average Attainment 8 scores.
For CIN and CINO, White pupils have the lowest average score, but for CLA, pupils from other ethnic groups have the lowest average score.
Attainment 8 by period of care length
For CLA, average attainment scores increase with longer period of care durations.
Attainment in English and mathematics (grades 5 or above)
This measure looks at the percentage of pupils achieving grade 5 or above in both English and mathematics GCSEs. To count for this measure a pupil would have to achieve a grade 5 or above in either English literature or English language. There is no requirement to sit both.
The percentage of pupils achieving grade 5 or above in both English and mathematics GCSEs has increased in the overall pupil population and the CPPO key social care group since 2022/23, whereas the percentage of pupils in the other key social care groups achieving this measure has decreased from 2022/23.
For all key social care groups and the overall pupil population the percentage achieving grade 5 or above in both English and mathematics GCSEs is generally higher than or similar to 2018/19.
In 2023/24, the attainment in English and mathematics (grade 5 or above) for pupils across most key social care groups was broadly similar, except for lower attainment for CLA less than 12 months. The CINO key social care group has higher attainment (10.0%) than other key social care groups, including CLA for at least 12 months (9.0%) and CIN (9.0%).
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) entry
The EBacc shows how many pupils are entering GCSEs (or AS level qualifications) in core academic subjects at Key Stage 4. The EBacc consists of English, mathematics, science, a language, and history or geography. To count in the EBacc, qualifications must be on the English Baccalaureate list of qualifications (opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab).
In 2020, this measure was less likely to have been affected by the cancellation of examinations as schools will have taken most of their entry decisions ahead of the COVID-19 disruption.
The percentage of pupils entering the EBacc has remained broadly stable for both the overall pupil population and the key social care groups compared to 2022/23,with a slight increase for CLA for at least 12 months and CIN and a slight decrease for the other key social care groups. For all key social care groups and the overall pupil population, the percentage entering EBacc is slightly higher than in 2018/19, with CLA for at least 12 months (11.4%) having the highest increase (2.1 percentage points).
EBacc average point score (EBacc APS)
The EBacc APS measures pupils' point scores across the five pillars of the EBacc - English, mathematics, science, a language, and history or geography - with a zero for any missing pillars. This ensures the attainment of all pupils is recognised, not just those at particular grade boundaries, encouraging schools to enter pupils of all abilities, and support them to achieve their full potential.
For more information on these measures and their calculation methodology, see the secondary accountability guidance (opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab).
The EBacc average point score is similar for all key social care groups and the overall pupil population in 2023/24 compared to 2022/23 and is roughly in line with 2018/19. All key social care groups have an average point score less than half that of the overall pupil population.
Progress 8
Progress 8 aims to capture the progress a pupil makes from the end of Key Stage 2 to the end of Key Stage 4. It compares pupils' achievement - their Attainment 8 score - with the national average Attainment 8 score of all pupils who had a similar starting point (or ‘prior attainment’), calculated using assessment results from the end of primary school. Progress 8 is a relative measure, therefore the national average Progress 8 score for all pupils is very close to zero. It can be used to compare the progress of different pupil characteristics.
A Progress 8 score of 1.0 means pupils in the group make on average approximately a grade more progress than the national average; a score of -0.5 means they make on average approximately half a grade less progress than average.
The average Progress 8 score is lower for all key social care groups than for the overall pupil population. CLA for at least 12 months has the highest average Progress 8 score of the key social care groups and CLA less than 12 months has the lowest.
