Revised KS4 data released

This statistical release focuses on the GCSE results of pupils at the end of Key stage 4 (KS4) attending state-funded schools in England and includes pupil characteristic breakdowns such as disadvantage status, Free School Meal status, Special Educational Needs status and ethnicity.

In 2022/23 there was a return to pre-pandemic standards for GCSEs, AS and A levels, with protection built into the grading process to recognise the disruption that students faced.

Headline facts and figures for 2022/23:

• Percentage of pupils entering the English Baccalaureate was 39.3% up 0.6% since 2021/22
• Percentage of pupils achieving grades 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs was 45.3%, down 4.5% since 2021/22
• Average attainment 8 score of all pupils was 46.3, down 2.5 points since 2021/22
• Average EBacc APS score per pupil 4.05, down 0.22 points since 2021/22
• The KS4 disadvantage gap index has widened compared to 2021/22, from 3.84 to 3.94. It is now at its highest level since 2011.

Further information here.

Users of the data need to exercise caution when considering comparisons over time, due to the changes in approach to grading between 2022 and 2023. It is expected that performance in 2023 will generally be lower than in 2022. The more meaningful comparison is with 2019, the last year that summer exams were taken before the pandemic.

The changes seen in the headline attainment statistics likely reflect the changes in approach to grading in different years and resulting methodology changes for calculating the measures rather than demonstrating changes in standards. As such, year on year comparisons should be treated with caution. However, the trends data can show whether attainment gaps for pupils with particular characteristics or within certain school types have changed between years.

For more information on how performance measures are calculated see the KS4 technical guide.