GCSE results (‘Attainment 8’) for children aged 14 to 16 (key stage 4)

Published 9 October 2018

Last updated 2 May 2019 - see all updates

This page corrects mistakes in a previous version. See details.

Contents

1. Main facts and figures

• in 2016/17, there were 527,859 pupils at the end of key stage 4 in state-funded schools, and ethnicity was known for 521,048 (99%) of them
• of these, 77% were White, 10% were Asian, 5% were Black, 5% were Mixed, 1.6% came from the Other ethnic group and 0.4% were Chinese
• on average, pupils from the Chinese, Asian and Mixed ethnic groups scored higher than the national average for Attainment 8 (which measures how children perform in 8 GCSE-level qualifications)
• White pupils and Black pupils scored below the national average for Attainment 8
• pupils from the Gypsy/Roma and Irish Traveller ethnic groups had the lowest average score for Attainment 8

Incorrect data

Between 9 October 2018 and 16 April 2019, the statistics in the tables and download file on this page were incorrect. They have now been updated.

Things you need to know

Please be aware that some of the statistics quoted here for some ethnic groups are based on very small numbers of pupils (for example, only 131 Chinese children were eligible for free school meals in 2016/17) and are highly variable over time.

Because the results for Chinese pupils are based on a very small number, the average score for this group can be heavily influenced by one pupil either performing exceptionally, or getting a very low score.

Attainment is lower for children from a Traveller of Irish Heritage background – however, there were only 118 pupils from this ethnic group at the end of key stage 4 in 2016/17. This was a much smaller number than for other ethnic groups (for example, there were 21,323 Pakistani pupils at the end of key stage 4). Therefore, data comparisons between Traveller of Irish Heritage pupils and other ethnic groups may be unreliable.

The ethnicity of 1.3% of pupils (6,811) is not known. This includes pupils whose ethnicity was not surveyed, pupils who refused to be surveyed, and pupils whose ethnicity could not be determined.

The Department of Education (DfE) has excluded, or ‘suppressed’, very small numbers (for example, values of 1 or 2, a percentage based on 1 or 2 pupils who achieved, or 0, 1 or 2 pupils who did not achieve a particular level).

This is because, where the size of the ethnic group population is small enough that an individual’s identity could be revealed, information is suppressed to preserve confidentiality. This is consistent with DfE’s statistical policy statement on confidentiality (PDF opens in a new window or tab).

The Attainment 8 measure only includes qualifications which count towards the secondary performance tables.

Schools that offer unapproved qualifications, such as unregulated international GCSEs, will not have these qualifications counted in the performance tables. Achievements in these qualifications by pupils at such schools are not reflected in this data.

This data therefore represents the performance of schools and pupils in qualifications which count in the performance tables, rather than all qualifications taken by pupils. The difference between the figures for all schools and state-funded mainstream schools is mostly due to the impact of the unregulated international GCSEs taken in independent schools.

Data for some Muslim, Sikh and Hindu schools was not included in the statistics for faith schools, because the small numbers of pupils make it impossible to draw meaningful conclusions about their attainment. Data for faith schools is also only provided for pupils in state-funded mainstream schools.

Schools can ask for a pupil to be removed from their performance results if the pupil:

• arrived recently from overseas and their first language isn’t English
• was admitted following a permanent exclusion from another school
• is not at the end of key stage 4
• has left England to live abroad
• has died

Pupils removed from a school’s performance results may still be included in the national figures.

What the data measures

This data measures how children perform in 8 GCSE-level qualifications, referred to by the Department for Education (DfE) as ‘Attainment 8’.

Attainment 8 is one of two ways of measuring how well children do in key stage 4, brought in by DfE in 2016. The other is Progress 8.

The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 include English and Maths, which are both ‘double-weighted’, meaning they are given twice the importance of other subjects.

Of the remaining 6 subjects, 3 must come from qualifications that count towards the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), and 3 can be either EBacc subjects, GCSE subjects, or technical qualifications from a list approved by the DfE.

Each individual grade a pupil achieves is assigned a point score, which is then used to calculate their total Attainment 8 score.

A pupil’s Attainment 8 score is calculated by adding up the points for their 8 subjects (with England and Maths counted twice), and dividing by 10. A school's Attainment 8 score is the average of all of its eligible pupils’ scores.

To calculate the national average for Attainment 8, DfE adds together all the Attainment 8 scores given to individual children, and divides them by the total number of pupils at the end of key stage 4.

The data covers the academic year 2016/17 (September 2016 to July 2017).

Key stage 4 covers school years 10 and 11, when children are aged 14 to 16.

The ethnic categories used in this data

This data uses categories from the Department for Education’s school census, which is broadly based on the 2001 national Census, with 3 exceptions:

• Traveller of Irish Heritage and Gypsy/Roma children have been separated into 2 categories
• Sri Lankan has been added to the Asian/Asian British group but is not reported separately
• Chinese pupils have been assigned a separate category

These changes were made after consultations with local authorities and lobby groups.

The categories in the school census are as follows:

White:

• White British
• White Irish
• Traveller of Irish Heritage
• Gypsy/Roma
• Other White

Mixed/Multiple ethnic groups:

• White and Black Caribbean
• White and Black African
• White and Asian
• Other Mixed background

Asian/Asian British:

• Indian
• Pakistani
• Bangladeshi
• Sri Lankan
• Other Asian background

Black/African/Caribbean/Black British:

• Black African
• Black Caribbean
• Other Black background
• Chinese
• Other ethnic group

Information is provided for both detailed and broad ethnic groups where possible and when the data is available.

The 6 broad categories used are as follows:

• Asian/Asian British
• Black/African/Caribbean/Black British
• Chinese
• Mixed/Multiple ethnic groups
• White
• Other ethnic group

However, local authority data is only provided for 5 broad ethnic groups. Information about the specific ethnic categories is excluded to preserve confidentiality and ensure individuals cannot be identified. Information about the Other ethnic group is not given because DfE does not publish data for this group at the local authority level.

The 5 broad categories are as follows:

• Asian/Asian British
• Black/African/Caribbean/Black British
• Chinese
• Mixed/Multiple ethnic groups
• White

2. GCSE-level exam results (‘Attainment 8’) by ethnicity

• Location: England
• Time period: 2016/17
• Source: Revised GCSE and equivalent results in England: 2016 to 2017

Attainment 8 scores by ethnicity

Ethnicity	Score	Pupils
Asian	49.8	52,787
Bangladeshi	49.9	8,874
Indian	55.4	13,968
Pakistani	45.0	21,323
Asian other	52.3	8,622
Black	44.8	27,922
Black African	46.9	17,466
Black Caribbean	40.5	7,097
Black other	42.6	3,359
Chinese	62.6	2,073
Mixed	47.0	23,483
Mixed White/Asian	51.8	5,147
Mixed White/Black African	47.0	2,714
Mixed White/Black Caribbean	41.3	7,038
Mixed other	48.8	8,584
White	45.9	406,342
White British	45.9	378,108
White Irish	51.6	1,676
Gypsy/Roma	18.0	1,073
Irish Traveller	23.8	118
White other	46.5	25,367
Other	46.8	8,441

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary of GCSE results (‘Attainment 8’) for children aged 14 to 16 (key stage 4) GCSE-level exam results (‘Attainment 8’) by ethnicity Summary

This data shows that:

• in 2016/17, the average Attainment 8 score for all pupils in state-funded schools in England was 46.3
• out of the broad ethnic groups, those scoring above the national average for Attainment 8 were pupils from the Chinese ethnic group (62.6), Asian pupils (49.8) and those with Mixed ethnicity (47.0)
• White pupils (45.9) and Black pupils (44.8) had average Attainment 8 scores lower than the national average
• out of the specific ethnic groups, the pupils with the highest scores on average were in the Chinese (62.6) and Indian (55.4) ethnic groups, and those with the lowest were in the Gypsy/Roma (18.0) and Traveller of Irish Heritage (23.8) ethnic groups

3. GCSE-level exam results (‘Attainment 8’) by ethnicity and eligibility for free school meals (FSM)

• Location: England
• Time period: 2016/17
• Source: Revised GCSE and equivalent results in England: 2016 to 2017

Attainment 8 scores by ethnicity groups and eligibility for free school meals

	FSM		Non-FSM
Ethnicity	FSM Score	FSM Pupils	Non-FSM Score	Non-FSM Pupils
All	35.0	69,261	48.0	458,598
Asian	43.3	8,824	51.1	43,963
Bangladeshi	46.3	2,438	51.3	6,436
Indian	46.5	1,016	56.1	12,952
Pakistani	40.8	4,302	46.1	17,021
Asian other	43.5	1,068	53.6	7,554
Black	39.7	6,076	46.1	21,846
Black African	42.1	3,777	48.2	13,689
Black Caribbean	35.2	1,574	42.0	5,523
Black other	37.2	725	44.2	2,634
Chinese	58.0	131	62.9	1,942
Mixed	36.7	4,297	49.3	19,186
Mixed White/Asian	37.6	723	54.1	4,424
Mixed White/Black African	39.8	541	48.8	2,173
Mixed White/Black Caribbean	32.7	1,598	43.8	5,440
Mixed other	39.6	1,435	50.7	7,149
White	32.3	46,985	47.7	359,357
White British	32.1	44,106	47.8	334,002
White Irish	32.6	194	54.1	1,482
Gypsy/Roma	17.9	325	18.0	748
Irish Traveller	19.4	66	29.3	52
White other	39.8	2,294	47.1	23,073
Other	42.4	2,012	48.2	6,429
Unknown	32.4	936	41.1	5,875

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary of GCSE results (‘Attainment 8’) for children aged 14 to 16 (key stage 4) GCSE-level exam results (‘Attainment 8’) by ethnicity and eligibility for free school meals (FSM) Summary

Eligibility for free school meals (FSM) is used as an indicator of deprivation by the Department for Education. For more about who qualifies for FSM, see the ’Methodology’ section.

This data shows that:

• 13% of pupils (69,261 children) at the end of key stage 4 were eligible for free school meals (FSM) in 2016/17
• 24% of pupils from the Other ethnic background, 22% of Black pupils, 18% of pupils with Mixed ethnicity, 17% of Asian pupils, 12% of White pupils and 6% of pupils from the Chinese ethnic group were eligible for FSM
• pupils eligible for FSM had an average Attainment 8 score of 35.0, which is 13 points lower than the average for all other pupils
• pupils eligible for FSM had lower average Attainment 8 scores in all ethnic groups except the Gypsy/Roma group, where there was little difference between those eligible and those not eligible
• of pupils eligible for FSM, pupils from the Chinese ethnic group had the highest average Attainment 8 score (58.0), and White pupils had the lowest (32.3)
• White Irish pupils saw the biggest gap between those eligible for FSM and other pupils, at around 22 points, with FSM-eligible pupils scoring an average of 32.6 and those not eligible scoring 54.1
• please be aware that the statistics quoted here for some ethnic groups are based on very small numbers of pupils (for example, only 131 Chinese children were eligible for FSM in 2016/17) and are highly variable over time

4. GCSE-level exam results (‘Attainment 8’) by ethnicity and area

• Location: England
• Time period: 2016/17
• Source: Revised GCSE and equivalent results in England: 2016 to 2017

Attainment 8 scores by ethnicity and area

	All		Asian		Black		Chinese		Mixed		White
Local authority	All Score	All Pupils	Asian Score	Asian Pupils	Black Score	Black Pupils	Chinese Score	Chinese Pupils	Mixed Score	Mixed Pupils	White Score	White Pupils
Barking and Dagenham	46.7	2,185	53.0	428	47.4	601	48.0	3	45.6	124	43.3	970
Barnet	54.7	3,528	64.3	539	47.6	478	69.1	55	54.9	343	53.9	1,728
Barnsley	44.0	2,110			49.3	9			48.5	30	43.9	2,051
Bath and North East Somerset	47.5	2,001	56.3	33	37.0	22	55.8	5	44.5	72	47.7	1,838
Bedford	45.9	1,827	45.4	266	42.1	88	71.9	5	40.4	144	46.8	1,294
Bexley	49.0	3,141	60.4	203	54.9	567	60.6	48	50.6	185	45.8	2,086
Birmingham	46.1	12,127	47.2	4,710	43.5	1,453	61.6	55	45.9	923	45.6	4,326
Blackburn with Darwen	46.4	1,746	50.3	764	39.3	20	51.6	4	44.5	54	43.3	890
Blackpool	38.8	1,190	53.6	21	18.8	3	53.4	4	40.0	18	38.6	1,134
Bolton	43.7	3,263	48.6	659	40.6	145	62.1	6	43.3	86	42.5	2,313
Bournemouth	48.0	1,611	55.7	35	44.7	19	59.1	11	48.6	75	47.7	1,428
Bracknell Forest	46.3	1,119	51.1	52					42.9	46	46.2	989
Bradford	42.4	5,786	43.0	2,598	43.7	79	57.2	10	40.3	226	42.0	2,743
Brent	49.0	2,908	51.9	894	42.4	698	66.1	4	45.8	195	46.7	507
Brighton and Hove	46.8	2,197	49.2	60	45.5	43	69.7	6	46.3	164	46.6	1,847
Bristol, City of	44.0	3,236	46.8	229	39.4	326	52.2	12	44.8	244	44.3	2,376
Bromley	49.8	3,258	60.8	182	51.1	296	69.2	43	51.4	303	50.3	2,231
Buckinghamshire	52.9	5,599	53.7	979	47.9	171	69.9	27	52.7	305	52.8	4,016
Bury	46.0	2,120	46.9	262	35.8	35	57.7	11	46.2	82	46.0	1,697
Calderdale	48.2	2,475	49.1	359	46.4	26	67.8	7	45.7	69	48.1	1,997
Cambridgeshire	47.7	5,635	50.7	169	40.0	54	63.1	32	50.1	207	47.6	5,032
Camden	48.3	1,513	46.4	277	44.9	318	70.9	7	49.3	191	49.7	577
Central Bedfordshire	45.5	2,591	53.7	54	39.7	53	60.7	7	43.0	105	45.5	2,347
Cheshire East	48.9	3,582	53.9	56	47.7	12	67.8	12	48.9	89	48.8	3,378
Cheshire West and Chester	46.5	3,328	43.9	41	48.4	10	60.7	8	50.5	71	46.4	3,181
City of London	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*
Cornwall	45.7	5,133	45.4	21					48.2	98	45.7	4,928
County Durham	44.6	4,608	51.1	28	45.2	5	70.6	12	50.0	46	44.8	4,459
Coventry	42.8	3,374	48.6	635	43.8	305	69.9	9	39.7	171	41.2	2,198
Croydon	45.0	3,579	51.5	462	43.0	1,031	64.5	10	47.2	503	45.6	1,338
Cumbria	46.3	4,915	52.2	21	49.3	10	63.6	17	53.7	62	46.3	4,652
Darlington	45.3	1,066		23						22	45.2	998
Derby	42.6	2,741	46.6	479		87		7	39.1	170	42.0	1,944
Derbyshire	45.6	7,249	44.0	54					48.7	133	45.5	6,965
Devon	46.5	6,704	55.8	32	25.2	5	51.8	21	51.5	96	46.4	6,265
Doncaster	43.6	2,996	51.0	86	50.7	41	68.1	11	43.0	69	43.2	2,757
Dorset	45.2	3,988	49.1	30	44.3	3	55.0	11	46.7	77	45.1	3,792
Dudley	43.7	3,484	43.2	318	43.2	90	61.4	7	43.5	190	43.9	2,820
Ealing	48.7	2,722	50.9	808	44.0	543	47.9	4	48.7	231	50.0	736
East Riding of Yorkshire	47.2	3,370		12	53.1	8		4	49.8	53	47.0	3,236
East Sussex	45.3	4,812	52.5	82	39.3	39	54.9	16	46.8	184	45.1	4,395
Enfield	46.2	3,487	56.5	277	44.2	854	67.6	9	47.7	315	45.2	1,747
Essex	46.7	14,378	61.2	348	50.3	398	65.4	57	48.7	556	46.0	12,778
Gateshead	46.8	1,909	52.1	45	40.1	10	60.9	7	58.7	26	46.3	1,784
Gloucestershire	48.4	6,165	56.0	162	40.7	77	60.7	17	48.4	215	48.3	5,633
Greenwich	45.9	2,166	50.5	188	46.2	637	59.3	19	45.7	216	44.6	1,008
Hackney	49.4	2,002	50.1	270	46.9	750	70.1	9	48.2	153	52.2	648
Halton	44.9	1,395	59.8	3					48.0	31	44.8	1,347
Hammersmith and Fulham	50.9	1,313	52.4	102	43.1	341	70.6	4	46.2	137	56.6	578
Hampshire	47.0	12,740	52.3	332	44.1	89	57.3	36	48.2	363	46.8	11,749
Haringey	46.5	2,127	49.0	139	42.1	581	59.8	7	47.0	211	48.6	1,024
Harrow	49.7	2,049	54.1	898	41.8	329	68.5	6	49.0	147	47.6	540
Hartlepool	44.0	976		23	45.6	4	N/A*	0		8	43.7	939
Havering	47.5	2,794	52.4	106	50.8	340	66.8	7	48.2	132	46.5	2,141
Herefordshire, County of	45.7	1,718	62.1	7	38.3	4					45.4	1,655
Hertfordshire	49.7	12,734	55.6	851	46.6	468	66.4	68	50.5	736	49.2	10,391
Hillingdon	47.1	3,075	53.1	659	43.9	350	35.4	4	48.6	324	44.4	1,482
Hounslow	48.0	2,641	54.2	746	46.4	353	71.3	7	48.3	184	47.9	958
Isle of Wight	40.1	1,251	54.5	5					45.7	30	39.9	1,196
Isles of Scilly	45.0	19	N/A*	0	N/A*	0					44.8	18
Islington	45.6	1,377	49.2	163	43.6	387	57.2	5	44.8	155	44.7	525
Kensington and Chelsea	55.0	739	55.4	18	50.1	126	68.3	5	54.5	112	56.9	302
Kent	46.3	15,407	57.6	566	52.7	345	68.1	65	51.1	615	45.4	13,538
Kingston upon Hull, City of	42.6	2,253	56.0	43	49.2	32	67.7	5	45.5	41	42.5	2,018
Kingston upon Thames	55.5	1,517	62.0	333	45.5	40	79.6	22	54.9	128	53.0	915
Kirklees	45.3	4,383	45.0	1,233	40.9	92	67.1	8	39.3	221	46.0	2,794
Knowsley	37.6	978	38.4	5					40.5	17	37.5	944
Lambeth	44.3	1,949	48.8	76	41.9	990	62.4	23	43.0	244	47.6	504
Lancashire	45.7	12,078	46.8	1,238	39.7	29	64.4	32	47.2	273	45.4	10,415
Leeds	45.1	7,427	43.9	921	45.0	417	61.3	39	43.9	362	46.1	5,420
Leicester	42.8	3,310	47.3	1,526	41.0	357					38.1	1,139
Leicestershire	45.7	6,867	54.9	497	43.9	55	61.8	24	44.2	236	44.9	5,987
Lewisham	44.2	2,247	44.2	132	42.3	952	58.4	34	45.8	285	45.2	675
Lincolnshire	46.4	7,549	61.4	93	45.4	43	62.8	21	50.7	165	46.0	7,160
Liverpool	44.2	4,467	53.9	131	43.7	158	60.7	48	46.3	192	43.5	3,768
Luton	43.5	2,433	46.5	1,040	42.3	267	65.4	4	39.6	150	41.4	780
Manchester	43.4	4,574	48.4	1,056	43.2	741	55.4	37	42.8	328	40.5	2,120
Medway	45.7	2,910	57.0	134	51.5	159	63.4	10	48.4	139	44.4	2,415
Merton	50.2	1,420	52.7	230	46.8	280	56.6	7	51.7	177	50.5	672
Middlesbrough	43.2	1,386	52.7	182						49	42.5	1,061
Milton Keynes	44.9	2,841	49.5	248	44.6	352	63.2	15	44.3	167	44.3	1,985
Newcastle upon Tyne	43.3	2,362	49.1	238	40.4	77	54.4	23	47.4	60	42.6	1,888
Newham	48.4	3,523	52.4	1,618	45.3	863	63.9	14	44.6	213	43.2	597
Norfolk	45.0	7,864	54.3	72	44.3	72	61.8	32	48.5	167	44.8	7,418
North East Lincolnshire	43.8	1,592							47.5	21	44.1	1,431
North Lincolnshire	44.8	1,749	48.9	66					52.4	29	44.5	1,630
North Somerset	46.0	2,086	54.9	21	45.5	12	46.3	5	50.8	41	45.8	1,996
North Tyneside	47.0	1,959	49.6	34	33.9	9	60.7	17	53.3	33	46.8	1,845
North Yorkshire	49.6	5,904	58.5	94	49.4	16	55.0	12	51.8	99	49.4	5,632
Northamptonshire	44.7	7,287	50.5	304	45.4	303	67.8	18	44.5	349	44.3	6,228
Northumberland	44.7	3,145	46.8	39	49.8	4	56.3	6	50.6	40	44.6	3,046
Nottingham	40.3	2,505	46.4	436	40.6	277	57.0	6	39.1	249	38.5	1,453
Nottinghamshire	47.8	7,511	55.7	166	45.5	112	64.7	24	49.2	277	47.6	6,821
Oldham	43.6	2,918	44.3	869	43.2	45	59.7	8	41.7	115	43.4	1,802
Oxfordshire	47.6	5,945	46.3	310	45.2	114	60.3	28	46.2	320	47.7	5,077
Peterborough	42.1	2,237	44.1	388	43.6	73	62.9	8	41.0	115	41.6	1,608
Plymouth	44.5	2,515	52.6	22	40.9	18	64.4	5	44.6	40	44.3	2,371
Poole	51.5	1,341	60.2	31	49.0	12	62.4	4	55.8	49	51.2	1,222
Portsmouth	42.3	1,627	56.2	82	48.0	43	69.7	5	46.8	49	41.0	1,412
Reading	49.6	1,134	56.5	222	41.7	105	80.8	16	46.6	105	48.9	642
Redbridge	51.2	3,458	55.3	1,792	44.8	463	59.7	22	48.8	243	46.9	856
Redcar and Cleveland	44.0	1,584	52.3	17					50.2	22	44.1	1,480
Richmond upon Thames	52.7	1,374	51.8	90	39.2	61	62.3	8	54.0	147	53.4	1,018
Rochdale	42.5	2,238	44.0	563	40.8	83	58.5	3	38.5	77	42.3	1,493
Rotherham	45.0	3,028	44.7	213	49.1	43	44.7	5	47.8	65	44.9	2,672
Rutland	52.2	473	62.1	4							52.1	458
Salford	41.7	2,057				97			44.6	94	41.2	1,775
Sandwell	42.4	3,564	44.8	993	40.2	309					41.6	1,901
Sefton	44.9	3,013	54.2	26	41.5	17	58.4	9	45.8	43	45.5	2,833
Sheffield	44.6	5,090	46.9	501	42.9	210	57.1	16	41.7	272	44.6	3,879
Shropshire	46.4	2,777	49.6	34	55.7	5	62.0	6	46.9	45	46.3	2,647
Slough	52.2	1,648	55.3	839					50.1	122	47.7	456
Solihull	47.1	2,917	52.6	331	45.9	63	68.1	10	45.3	163	46.8	2,217
Somerset	45.7	4,837	56.3	45	39.8	18	72.7	9	47.8	90	45.6	4,648
South Gloucestershire	43.7	2,586	49.3	72	45.2	36	62.7	5	42.8	107	43.6	2,337
South Tyneside	43.0	1,500	48.2	53	44.9	4	46.3	3	47.2	20	43.0	1,388
Southampton	44.2	1,845	50.9	191	43.0	42	68.6	5	47.3	99	43.1	1,489
Southend-on-Sea	50.4	2,103	59.9	127	60.4	128	66.1	22	53.1	87	48.7	1,715
Southwark	50.5	2,328	54.2	142	48.6	1,056	57.3	22	48.8	264	52.2	656
St. Helens	43.8	1,693					58.5	5	47.1	34	44.4	1,566
Staffordshire	44.9	8,414	47.1	265	41.5	40	59.0	15	43.3	186	44.8	7,861
Stockport	48.2	2,649	51.1	173	47.1	41	53.8	16	48.1	105	47.9	2,276
Stockton-on-Tees	45.6	1,913	48.0	99						29	45.4	1,758
Stoke-on-Trent	43.3	2,198	44.9	322	46.0	36	59.8	8	42.9	84	43.0	1,706
Suffolk	44.7	6,718	52.4	93	38.0	50	63.0	7	43.6	251	44.7	6,201
Sunderland	43.8	2,769	50.0	121	48.7	11	59.8	3	41.0	26	43.5	2,590
Surrey	50.0	10,067	54.0	592	48.5	197	67.1	45	51.8	467	49.5	8,621
Sutton	56.2	2,759	68.7	551	53.5	226	76.4	45	58.7	228	51.4	1,644
Swindon	42.9	2,038	43.4	201	48.7	39	59.8	5	44.8	79	42.6	1,667
Tameside	44.8	2,407	48.9	283	41.2	37	64.8	5	45.7	68	44.2	1,995
Telford and Wrekin	46.4	1,835	48.6	100	47.3	43	64.0	10	47.6	74	46.0	1,596
Thurrock	44.4	1,633	53.7	49	48.9	180	70.9	10	45.9	83	43.2	1,276
Torbay	49.3	1,316		13							49.7	1,186
Tower Hamlets	47.2	2,623	49.9	1,769	46.7	306	51.0	6	44.5	113	40.7	300
Trafford	55.6	2,715	60.4	327	53.7	80	69.9	44	54.9	157	54.8	2,042
Wakefield	45.5	3,402	49.3	89	41.2	41	59.1	8	45.1	61	45.4	3,161
Walsall	43.2	3,169	47.6	649	43.6	132	73.0	3	42.2	159	41.9	2,191
Waltham Forest	45.5	2,486	47.9	681	42.0	567	51.1	19	44.2	235	46.0	883
Wandsworth	49.5	1,695	49.4	353	45.0	464	65.7	12	51.3	191	52.9	556
Warrington	47.0	2,277	55.6	42	40.4	5	51.6	9	47.5	44	47.0	2,126
Warwickshire	49.0	5,489	56.9	278	46.3	43	70.6	11	50.3	180	48.5	4,875
West Berkshire	47.4	1,790	53.5	46	40.4	29	69.9	6	47.9	76	48.0	1,587
West Sussex	46.8	7,782	49.5	329	39.6	97	53.0	18	48.8	252	46.7	7,007
Westminster	52.6	1,535	54.7	186	49.6	351	63.5	18	53.4	158	56.2	385
Wigan	46.2	3,337	48.8	34	48.3	25	61.7	9	49.0	55	46.1	3,172
Wiltshire	46.6	4,732	60.4	68	44.0	32	60.2	17	52.9	113	46.7	4,225
Windsor and Maidenhead	49.4	1,547	49.3	212	49.4	27	43.4	9	45.2	91	49.9	1,159
Wirral	48.1	3,349	61.1	62	50.4	12	60.0	22	54.4	68	47.7	3,158
Wokingham	51.7	1,642	53.8	182	46.1	59	69.2	7	49.7	89	51.7	1,270
Wolverhampton	45.0	2,505	52.1	601	44.5	244	46.9	11	40.0	246	43.0	1,362
Worcestershire	46.4	5,348	48.0	176	39.9	29	64.0	11	45.7	152	46.4	4,937
York	49.3	1,608	57.0	30	51.6	8	55.5	7	49.4	37	49.0	1,512

^* Not applicable Data withheld to protect confidentiality

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Summary of GCSE results (‘Attainment 8’) for children aged 14 to 16 (key stage 4) GCSE-level exam results (‘Attainment 8’) by ethnicity and area Summary

This data shows that:

• in 2016/17, pupils in Sutton in London had the highest average Attainment 8 score (56.2) and those in Knowsley had the lowest (37.6)
• the average score for Attainment 8 was lower in the Midlands and northern parts of the country than in the South of England and London
• among White pupils, the highest average score (56.9) was in Kensington and Chelsea, and the lowest was in Knowsley (37.5)
• among pupils with Mixed ethnicity, the highest average score was in Gateshead and Sutton (58.7) and the lowest was in Rochdale (38.5)
• among Asian pupils, the highest average score was in Sutton in London (68.7) and the lowest was in Knowsley (38.4)
• among Black pupils, the highest average score was in Southend-on-Sea (60.4) and the lowest was in Blackpool (18.8)
• among pupils from the Chinese ethnic group, the highest average score was in Reading (80.8), and the lowest was in Hillingdon (35.4)
• please be aware that the statistics quoted here for Attainment 8 achievement by local authority are based on small numbers of pupils and are highly variable over time

5. GCSE-level exam results (‘Attainment 8’) by ethnicity and gender

• Location: England
• Time period: 2016/17
• Source: Revised GCSE and equivalent results in England: 2016 to 2017

Attainment 8 scores by ethnicity and gender

	All pupils		Boys		Girls
Ethnicity	All pupils Score	All pupils Pupils	Boys Score	Boys Pupils	Girls Score	Girls Pupils
All	46.3	527,859	43.7	268,527	49.0	259,332
Asian	49.8	52,787	47.3	27,070	52.4	25,717
Bangladeshi	49.9	8,874	47.5	4,349	52.3	4,525
Indian	55.4	13,968	53.1	7,294	57.9	6,674
Pakistani	45.0	21,323	42.6	10,903	47.6	10,420
Asian other	52.3	8,622	49.3	4,524	55.7	4,098
Black	44.8	27,922	41.4	13,919	48.1	14,003
Black African	46.9	17,466	43.7	8,703	50.1	8,763
Black Caribbean	40.5	7,097	36.9	3,530	44.0	3,567
Black other	42.6	3,359	39.2	1,686	46.2	1,673
Chinese	62.6	2,073	60.5	1,080	64.8	993
Mixed	47.0	23,483	44.3	11,749	49.7	11,734
Mixed White/Asian	51.8	5,147	49.3	2,602	54.3	2,545
Mixed White/Black African	47.0	2,714	44.1	1,340	49.9	1,374
Mixed White/Black Caribbean	41.3	7,038	38.0	3,471	44.4	3,567
Mixed other	48.8	8,584	46.3	4,336	51.4	4,248
White	45.9	406,342	43.3	206,635	48.6	199,707
White British	45.9	378,108	43.4	192,325	48.6	185,783
White Irish	51.6	1,676	50.3	846	52.9	830
Gypsy/Roma	18.0	1,073	16.8	560	19.3	513
Irish Traveller	23.8	118	18.0	54	28.7	64
White other	46.5	25,367	43.6	12,850	49.4	12,517
Other	46.8	8,441	44.1	4,471	49.9	3,970
Unknown	39.9	6,811	37.1	3,603	43.0	3,208

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Summary of GCSE results (‘Attainment 8’) for children aged 14 to 16 (key stage 4) GCSE-level exam results (‘Attainment 8’) by ethnicity and gender Summary

This data shows that:

• on average, Attainment 8 scores were higher for girls than boys in all ethnic groups – overall, girls achieved an average score of 49.0, compared with 43.7 for boys
• girls from the Chinese ethnic group achieved the highest average score out of all ethnic groups and among boys and girls, at 64.8
• boys from a Gypsy/Roma background had the lowest average score, at 16.8
• the smallest difference in scores between girls and boys was found among pupils from a Gypsy/Roma background, where girls scored an average of 2.5 points more than boys
• the largest difference in scores between girls and boys was found among pupils from Traveller of Irish Heritage background, where boys scored an average of 18.0 compared with 28.7 for girls (a difference of 10.7 points)

6. GCSE-level exam results (‘Attainment 8’) by ethnicity, gender and eligibility for free school meals (FSM)

• Location: England
• Time period: 2016/17
• Source: Revised GCSE and equivalent results in England: 2016 to 2017

Attainment 8 scores by ethnicity, gender and eligibility for free school meals (FSM)

	FSM Boys		FSM Girls		Non-FSM Boys		Non-FSM Girls
Ethnicity	FSM Boys Score	FSM Boys Pupils	FSM Girls Score	FSM Girls Pupils	Non-FSM Boys Score	Non-FSM Boys Pupils	Non-FSM Girls Score	Non-FSM Girls Pupils
All	32.1	34,903	38.0	34,358	45.4	233,624	50.7	224,974
Asian	40.5	4,362	46.1	4,462	48.7	22,708	53.7	21,255
Bangladeshi	43.3	1,187	49.2	1,251	49.1	3,162	53.4	3,274
Indian	43.4	491	49.5	525	53.8	6,803	58.6	6,149
Pakistani	38.1	2,106	43.3	2,196	43.7	8,797	48.7	8,224
Asian other	40.8	578	46.7	490	50.5	3,946	57.0	3,608
Black	36.1	3,019	43.3	3,057	42.9	10,900	49.4	10,946
Black African	38.6	1,855	45.5	1,922	45.0	6,848	51.4	6,841
Black Caribbean	31.6	798	39.0	776	38.4	2,732	45.4	2,791
Black other	33.3	366	41.1	359	40.8	1,320	47.5	1,314
Chinese	55.5	69	60.9	62	60.9	1,011	65.0	931
Mixed	33.8	2,136	39.5	2,161	46.6	9,613	52.0	9,573
Mixed White/Asian	35.6	377	39.7	346	51.6	2,225	56.6	2,199
Mixed White/Black African	37.0	256	42.4	285	45.8	1,084	51.9	1,089
Mixed White/Black Caribbean	29.2	781	36.0	817	40.6	2,690	46.9	2,750
Mixed other	36.8	722	42.4	713	48.2	3,614	53.2	3,535
White	29.5	23,786	35.3	23,199	45.1	182,849	50.3	176,508
White British	29.2	22,338	35.0	21,768	45.2	169,987	50.4	164,015
White Irish	32.1	94	33.1	100	52.6	752	55.6	730
Gypsy/Roma	16.7	165	19.1	160	16.8	395	19.4	353
Irish Traveller	14.1	28	23.4	38	22.2	26	36.4	26
White other	37.0	1,161	42.6	1,133	44.2	11,689	50.1	11,384
Other	40.1	1,054	45.0	958	45.3	3,417	51.5	3,012
Unknown	30.3	477	34.6	459	38.1	3,126	44.4	2,749

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Summary of GCSE results (‘Attainment 8’) for children aged 14 to 16 (key stage 4) GCSE-level exam results (‘Attainment 8’) by ethnicity, gender and eligibility for free school meals (FSM) Summary

Eligibility for free school meals (FSM) is used as an indicator of deprivation by the Department for Education. For more about who qualifies for FSM, see the ’Methodology’ section.

This data shows that:

• overall, girls eligible for FSM scored an average of 5.9 points more in Attainment 8 than boys eligible for FSM; the gap among boys and girls not eligible for FSM was slightly smaller overall, at 5.3 points
• overall, the gap in average score between FSM-eligible pupils and those not eligible for FSM was similar between boys and girls in every ethnic group
• within the broad ethnic groups, FSM-eligible girls from the Chinese ethnic group had the highest average Attainment 8 score (60.9) out of all FSM-eligible pupils, and FSM-eligible White boys had the lowest (29.5)
• among the specific ethnic groups, FSM-eligible boys from a Traveller of Irish Heritage background had the lowest average score (14.1) out of all ethnic groups and among boys and girls; Chinese girls who were not eligible for FSM had the highest average score (65.0)
• pupils from the Traveller of Irish Heritage ethnic group not eligible for FSM showed the biggest difference in average score between girls and boys, with girls scoring an average of 14 points more (36.4 and 22.2 respectively)
• the smallest difference in average score between girls and boys was found among White Irish pupils eligible for FSM, with girls scoring 1 point more (33.1 and 32.1 respectively)

7. GCSE-level exam results (‘Attainment 8’) by ethnicity, gender and area

• Location: England
• Time period: 2016/17
• Source: Revised GCSE and equivalent results in England: 2016 to 2017

Attainment 8 scores by ethnicity, gender and area

	All			Asian			Black			Chinese			Mixed			White
Local authority	All All	All Boys	All Girls	Asian All	Asian Boys	Asian Girls	Black All	Black Boys	Black Girls	Chinese All	Chinese Boys	Chinese Girls	Mixed All	Mixed Boys	Mixed Girls	White All	White Boys	White Girls
County Durham	44.6	42.2	47.2	51.1	42.6	55.2	45.2			70.6			50.0	43.5	58.3	44.8	42.5	47.3
Darlington	45.3	43.0	47.4					N/A*								45.2	42.9	47.4
Gateshead	46.8	44.0	49.7	52.1	52.2	52.0	40.1	41.8	39.4	60.9	58.8	63.8	58.7	57.6	59.6	46.3	43.6	49.2
Hartlepool	44.0	40.8	47.4				45.6			N/A*	N/A*	N/A*				43.7	40.6	47.0
Middlesbrough	43.2	40.4	46.4	52.7	49.4	56.0						N/A*				42.5	40.0	45.4
Newcastle upon Tyne	43.3	41.5	45.3	49.1	46.8	51.9	40.4	36.5	44.5	54.4	45.9	62.3	47.4	46.9	48.0	42.6	40.9	44.4
North Tyneside	47.0	43.9	50.3	49.6	44.2	53.5	33.9	28.8	44.2	60.7	56.2	68.9	53.3	52.8	53.8	46.8	43.6	50.2
Northumberland	44.7	41.8	47.7	46.8	45.1	48.4	49.8	N/A*	49.8	56.3	56.3	56.3	50.6	57.6	46.4	44.6	41.6	47.7
Redcar and Cleveland	44.0	40.6	47.3	52.3					N/A*			N/A*	50.2	49.5	50.9	44.1	40.4	47.6
South Tyneside	43.0	40.5	45.7	48.2	52.9	45.4	44.9			46.3			47.2			43.0	40.4	45.8
Stockton-on-Tees	45.6	43.0	48.1	48.0	45.4	49.8					N/A*					45.4	42.9	47.9
Sunderland	43.8	41.8	46.0	50.0	49.1	50.8	48.7			59.8			41.0	38.1	45.0	43.5	41.5	45.8
Blackburn with Darwen	46.4	44.3	48.5	50.3	47.2	53.7	39.3			51.6			44.5			43.3	41.5	44.9
Blackpool	38.8	35.9	41.4	53.6	43.6	62.8	18.8			53.4			40.0			38.6	35.8	41.0
Bolton	43.7	40.7	46.8	48.6	45.5	52.4	40.6			62.1			43.3			42.5	39.4	45.6
Bury	46.0	43.6	48.4	46.9	48.0	45.8	35.8	34.0	41.0	57.7	54.2	60.7	46.2	44.2	47.8	46.0	43.2	48.9
Cheshire East	48.9	46.6	51.3	53.9	54.8	52.9	47.7	46.6	48.8	67.8	62.5	71.6	48.9	47.7	50.2	48.8	46.4	51.2
Cheshire West and Chester	46.5	44.2	49.1	43.9	43.0	44.5	48.4	49.3	46.3	60.7	62.8	58.6	50.5	44.2	55.4	46.4	44.1	49.0
Cumbria	46.3	43.6	49.0	52.2	51.9	52.4	49.3	37.8	54.2	63.6	55.9	69.1	53.7	51.1	56.3	46.3	43.7	48.8
Halton	44.9	41.6	48.0	59.8							N/A*		48.0	51.4	46.5	44.8	41.3	48.1
Knowsley	37.6	35.6	39.8	38.4					N/A*				40.5	39.8	41.6	37.5	35.5	39.7
Lancashire	45.7	42.9	48.6	46.8	44.9	48.8	39.7	32.8	45.2	64.4	62.9	66.2	47.2	45.4	49.0	45.4	42.5	48.5
Liverpool	44.2	41.7	46.6	53.9	56.3	51.5	43.7	39.7	47.4	60.7	62.2	59.3	46.3	43.6	48.3	43.5	40.9	46.1
Manchester	43.4	40.1	46.7	48.4	45.2	51.5	43.2	40.1	46.4	55.4	53.9	57.5	42.8	38.5	46.6	40.5	37.0	44.1
Oldham	43.6	40.8	46.5	44.3	40.8	48.2	43.2	39.6	47.3	59.7	51.9	67.5	41.7	40.3	43.2	43.4	40.9	46.0
Rochdale	42.5	40.2	45.1	44.0			40.8			58.5			38.5			42.3	39.9	44.8
Salford	41.7	38.0	45.3								N/A*		44.6	41.9	47.1	41.2	37.7	44.7
Sefton	44.9	43.0	46.8	54.2	51.3	57.0	41.5	39.8	42.9	58.4	53.3	62.6	45.8	40.9	50.0	45.5	43.4	47.8
St. Helens	43.8	41.7	45.8							58.5			47.1	42.4	51.8	44.4	42.2	46.5
Stockport	48.2	46.0	50.5	51.1	50.3	52.1	47.1	45.3	48.1	53.8	50.4	68.8	48.1	46.4	49.7	47.9	45.4	50.4
Tameside	44.8	42.7	46.9	48.9	46.9	50.9	41.2			64.8			45.7	42.7	48.1	44.2	42.1	46.3
Trafford	55.6	52.9	58.3	60.4	57.1	64.4	53.7	53.8	53.6	69.9	66.2	74.3	54.9	52.9	57.5	54.8	52.1	57.5
Warrington	47.0	44.3	49.9	55.6	49.9	60.8	40.4			51.6			47.5	37.7	55.0	47.0	44.4	49.7
Wigan	46.2	43.3	49.2	48.8	48.6	49.4	48.3	42.9	59.6	61.7	57.6	69.8	49.0	47.1	50.8	46.1	43.1	49.2
Wirral	48.1	45.5	50.8	61.1	59.7	61.9	50.4	48.8	55.3	60.0	54.0	70.4	54.4	51.4	57.5	47.7	45.1	50.3
Barnsley	44.0	41.7	46.4				49.3	44.0	53.6				48.5	47.1	49.5	43.9	41.7	46.3
Bradford	42.4	39.8	44.9	43.0	40.3	45.8	43.7	43.7	43.7	57.2	47.0	61.6	40.3	36.2	43.8	42.0	39.8	44.2
Calderdale	48.2	46.2	50.4	49.1	45.8	53.2	46.4			67.8			45.7	44.9	46.5	48.1	46.3	50.0
Doncaster	43.6	41.6	45.7	51.0	48.9	53.2	50.7	43.5	57.6	68.1	73.2	63.8	43.0	40.4	45.9	43.2	41.2	45.1
East Riding of Yorkshire	47.2	45.0	49.4				53.1						49.8	45.5	51.9	47.0	44.9	49.2
Kingston upon Hull, City of	42.6	40.4	45.1	56.0			49.2			67.7			45.5	41.3	50.8	42.5	40.2	45.2
Kirklees	45.3	42.5	48.3	45.0	41.9	48.2	40.9	41.3	40.6	67.1	62.7	69.8	39.3	35.9	42.6	46.0	43.2	48.9
Leeds	45.1	43.1	47.2	43.9	41.8	46.3	45.0	42.9	46.9	61.3	58.4	65.9	43.9	41.8	46.3	46.1	44.2	48.1
North East Lincolnshire	43.8	42.0	45.7		38.4			55.2			N/A*		47.5	52.9	45.9	44.1	42.1	46.2
North Lincolnshire	44.8	41.8	47.8	48.9	42.1	55.3							52.4	47.2	57.3	44.5	41.7	47.3
North Yorkshire	49.6	46.7	52.6	58.5	57.1	60.1	49.4			55.0			51.8	47.3	56.0	49.4	46.5	52.4
Rotherham	45.0	42.6	47.4	44.7	43.9	45.4	49.1			44.7			47.8	45.4	50.2	44.9	42.6	47.3
Sheffield	44.6	42.6	46.8	46.9	45.4	48.4	42.9	40.6	45.6	57.1	60.5	53.7	41.7	39.1	44.4	44.6	42.5	46.9
Wakefield	45.5	43.3	47.6	49.3	48.5	50.1	41.2	34.9	46.6	59.1	59.3	58.9	45.1	42.7	47.4	45.4	43.3	47.5
York	49.3	46.4	52.4	57.0	56.5	58.1	51.6	44.6	58.5	55.5	39.3	67.7	49.4	47.2	53.6	49.0	46.0	52.2
Derby	42.6	40.2	45.3	46.6	44.9	48.8		32.4			49.0		39.1	35.5	42.7	42.0	39.5	44.8
Derbyshire	45.6	43.1	48.2	44.0									48.7	48.3	49.0	45.5	43.0	48.1
Leicester	42.8	40.0	46.0	47.3	44.6	50.4	41.0	36.8	45.4							38.1	35.1	41.4
Leicestershire	45.7	43.2	48.3	54.9	51.5	58.5	43.9	40.5	49.4	61.8	58.2	64.4	44.2	41.8	47.1	44.9	42.5	47.4
Lincolnshire	46.4	44.0	48.8	61.4	60.0	62.6	45.4			62.8			50.7	44.5	57.8	46.0	43.8	48.4
Northamptonshire	44.7	42.7	46.8	50.5	50.8	50.0	45.4	42.0	48.8	67.8	67.9	67.7	44.5	40.8	48.1	44.3	42.3	46.3
Nottingham	40.3	37.8	42.8	46.4	45.5	47.1	40.6	36.8	44.7	57.0	51.6	62.3	39.1	36.7	41.4	38.5	36.2	41.1
Nottinghamshire	47.8	45.2	50.5	55.7	51.9	59.5	45.5	41.4	49.8	64.7	55.9	71.0	49.2	44.8	53.5	47.6	45.1	50.1
Rutland	52.2	51.5	52.9	62.1												52.1	51.4	52.9
Birmingham	46.1	43.4	48.7	47.2			43.5	40.7	46.3	61.6			45.9	42.6	49.3	45.6	42.6	48.4
Coventry	42.8	39.7	45.9	48.6	45.2	51.9	43.8	41.2	46.3	69.9	69.2	70.4	39.7	36.1	43.4	41.2	38.1	44.3
Dudley	43.7	41.8	45.9	43.2	41.3	45.2	43.2	38.9	47.3	61.4	49.5	77.3	43.5	41.3	46.3	43.9	42.1	45.9
Herefordshire, County of	45.7	43.1	48.2	62.1			38.3									45.4	42.8	48.0
Sandwell	42.4	40.5	44.3	44.8	42.5	47.5	40.2	37.8	42.5							41.6	40.0	43.1
Shropshire	46.4	43.8	49.1	49.6			55.7			62.0			46.9			46.3	43.8	48.9
Solihull	47.1	44.6	49.6	52.6	50.0	55.0	45.9	42.5	48.4	68.1	64.7	71.6	45.3	42.7	47.9	46.8	44.4	49.2
Staffordshire	44.9	41.9	47.9	47.1	44.1	50.1	41.5	39.0	43.4	59.0	62.6	55.8	43.3	40.2	46.9	44.8	41.9	47.9
Stoke-on-Trent	43.3	39.6	46.8	44.9	41.3	48.2	46.0	41.8	50.3	59.8	54.5	63.0	42.9	39.8	45.6	43.0	39.5	46.4
Telford and Wrekin	46.4	44.5	48.6	48.6			47.3	50.3	44.2	64.0			47.6	45.0	50.2	46.0	43.8	48.4
Walsall	43.2	41.0	45.3	47.6	45.3	50.4	43.6	40.2	47.3	73.0			42.2			41.9	39.8	43.9
Warwickshire	49.0	46.5	51.5	56.9	55.0	59.4	46.3	49.2	44.3	70.6	64.2	74.2	50.3	49.9	50.7	48.5	45.8	51.3
Wolverhampton	45.0	39.9	49.8	52.1	47.4	56.3	44.5	39.7	49.9	46.9	38.2	54.2	40.0	36.2	43.9	43.0	37.5	48.2
Worcestershire	46.4	43.8	49.1	48.0	45.3	50.6	39.9	40.0	39.8	64.0	65.5	62.1	45.7	43.8	47.4	46.4	43.7	49.1
Bedford	45.9	42.9	48.9	45.4	42.1	48.9	42.1			71.9			40.4	37.7	43.4	46.8	43.9	49.5
Cambridgeshire	47.7	44.9	50.6	50.7	48.7	52.8	40.0	37.5	44.9	63.1	61.6	66.0	50.1	48.4	52.1	47.6	44.7	50.6
Central Bedfordshire	45.5	42.5	48.9	53.7	49.3	58.3	39.7	31.0	55.3	60.7	67.5	55.6	43.0	42.6	43.5	45.5	42.5	48.9
Essex	46.7	43.9	49.4	61.2	59.3	63.8	50.3	45.9	53.9	65.4	63.3	67.9	48.7	47.2	50.1	46.0	43.1	48.8
Hertfordshire	49.7	46.7	52.8	55.6	52.0	59.2	46.6	42.8	50.3	66.4	64.3	70.9	50.5	46.1	54.5	49.2	46.4	52.1
Luton	43.5	41.1	45.9	46.5	43.9	49.2	42.3			65.4			39.6	39.0	40.4	41.4	39.2	43.6
Norfolk	45.0	42.5	47.5	54.3	50.6	58.0	44.3	39.5	49.6	61.8	58.0	64.8	48.5	46.2	51.0	44.8	42.4	47.3
Peterborough	42.1	39.9	44.5	44.1	42.4	46.0	43.6	43.4	43.8	62.9	66.2	60.9	41.0	36.5	45.3	41.6	39.1	44.1
Southend-on-Sea	50.4	48.7	52.2	59.9	59.6	60.2	60.4	59.3	61.5	66.1	62.5	73.7	53.1	50.2	55.8	48.7	46.9	50.6
Suffolk	44.7	42.2	47.2	52.4	49.1	55.4	38.0			63.0			43.6	40.1	47.8	44.7	42.4	47.0
Thurrock	44.4	41.9	46.9	53.7	53.1	54.3	48.9	46.0	51.9	70.9	54.0	78.1	45.9	44.6	47.4	43.2	40.7	45.7
Camden	48.3	44.3	51.2	46.4	44.6	48.3	44.9	37.6	49.0	70.9			49.3			49.7	46.2	52.2
City of London	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*
Hackney	49.4	46.2	52.1	50.1	46.9	52.9	46.9	43.2	50.0	70.1	64.0	77.8	48.2	46.6	49.2	52.2	48.9	55.1
Hammersmith and Fulham	50.9	47.2	54.8	52.4	49.4	56.1	43.1	41.4	45.2	70.6			46.2			56.6	53.7	59.0
Haringey	46.5	44.6	48.6	49.0	47.7	50.1	42.1	38.2	46.1	59.8			47.0			48.6	47.7	49.7
Islington	45.6	43.8	47.5	49.2	47.4	50.8	43.6	40.0	47.1	57.2			44.8			44.7	43.6	46.0
Kensington and Chelsea	55.0	55.5	54.2	55.4	48.8	62.0	50.1	49.7	50.6	68.3			54.5			56.9	58.6	53.9
Lambeth	44.3	40.9	48.0	48.8	45.4	55.0	41.9	37.0	46.3	62.4	60.9	65.9	43.0	39.5	47.3	47.6	45.3	50.8
Lewisham	44.2	41.5	47.2	44.2	41.4	47.2	42.3	39.1	45.7	58.4	56.5	61.8	45.8	43.9	48.1	45.2	42.1	48.8
Newham	48.4	46.1	50.7	52.4	50.7	54.2	45.3	42.6	48.0	63.9	63.9	63.7	44.6	41.5	47.8	43.2	39.8	46.5
Southwark	50.5	49.0	51.8	54.2	52.6	55.7	48.6	46.4	50.7	57.3	55.2	59.9	48.8	47.6	49.8	52.2	52.3	52.2
Tower Hamlets	47.2	44.1	50.3	49.9	46.6	53.2	46.7	43.1	50.1	51.0	39.5	62.5	44.5	39.0	49.8	40.7	38.9	42.6
Wandsworth	49.5	48.2	51.1	49.4	50.1	48.5	45.0	42.5	47.9	65.7	75.1	58.9	51.3	50.2	52.4	52.9	51.1	55.4
Westminster	52.6	47.7	57.0	54.7	53.0	57.2	49.6	45.1	54.1	63.5	61.2	64.6	53.4	46.9	58.8	56.2	46.3	62.0
Barking and Dagenham	46.7	43.5	50.1	53.0	50.3	55.9	47.4	42.7	52.3	48.0			45.6			43.3	40.9	46.1
Barnet	54.7	52.3	57.2	64.3	65.3	63.1	47.6	44.1	50.8	69.1	69.0	69.3	54.9	51.1	58.8	53.9	50.8	57.2
Bexley	49.0	46.5	51.5	60.4	56.2	63.9	54.9	51.5	57.9	60.6	57.0	66.6	50.6	49.4	51.4	45.8	43.8	48.0
Brent	49.0	46.8	51.1	51.9	49.8	54.1	42.4	39.5	45.1	66.1			45.8			46.7	43.7	49.5
Bromley	49.8	46.9	52.5	60.8	59.9	61.6	51.1	47.6	54.1	69.2	74.0	64.6	51.4	47.3	54.6	50.3	47.6	52.8
Croydon	45.0	41.3	48.5	51.5	48.0	55.3	43.0	39.3	46.6	64.5	67.1	61.9	47.2	44.8	49.1	45.6	41.7	49.0
Ealing	48.7	46.1	51.5	50.9	48.6	53.4	44.0	40.4	47.6	47.9			48.7			50.0	47.5	52.7
Enfield	46.2	44.1	48.6	56.5	54.9	58.4	44.2	41.3	47.2	67.6	75.1	58.2	47.7	47.6	47.7	45.2	43.0	47.7
Greenwich	45.9	43.3	48.8	50.5	47.9	53.1	46.2	44.0	48.5	59.3	57.8	60.0	45.7	44.2	47.3	44.6	41.7	48.0
Harrow	49.7	46.8	52.6	54.1	51.7	56.8	41.8	38.5	44.9	68.5	N/A*	68.5	49.0	48.5	49.6	47.6	43.2	51.7
Havering	47.5	45.6	49.5	52.4	49.0	54.7	50.8	48.2	53.5	66.8			48.2			46.5	44.9	48.3
Hillingdon	47.1	44.2	50.4	53.1	50.7	56.0	43.9	40.7	47.7	35.4			48.6			44.4	41.1	48.0
Hounslow	48.0	45.6	50.7	54.2	51.3	57.6	46.4	44.0	48.9	71.3	69.8	73.3	48.3	45.2	52.0	47.9	46.8	49.0
Kingston upon Thames	55.5	53.3	57.6	62.0	59.2	64.4	45.5	44.0	47.0	79.6	78.8	80.4	54.9	56.6	53.7	53.0	50.9	54.9
Merton	50.2	47.5	53.0	52.7	53.4	51.8	46.8	42.5	50.7	56.6	54.4	59.5	51.7	47.1	56.2	50.5	47.7	53.4
Redbridge	51.2	48.2	54.4	55.3	52.6	58.2	44.8	40.4	49.1	59.7	58.6	62.2	48.8	46.3	51.9	46.9	44.1	50.0
Richmond upon Thames	52.7	49.3	56.2	51.8	48.8	55.1	39.2	36.7	42.2	62.3	53.0	67.9	54.0	50.5	57.9	53.4	50.0	56.6
Sutton	56.2	54.6	57.8	68.7	68.5	68.9	53.5	47.6	59.9	76.4	75.2	77.7	58.7	57.5	59.8	51.4	49.9	53.0
Waltham Forest	45.5	43.0	47.9	47.9	46.8	49.0	42.0	39.2	44.7	51.1	40.7	65.3	44.2	42.6	46.2	46.0	42.6	49.4
Bracknell Forest	46.3	44.2	48.5	51.1				44.9					42.9	39.7	45.4	46.2	44.0	48.4
Brighton and Hove	46.8	43.9	50.0	49.2	44.1	55.4	45.5	40.3	51.5	69.7	67.3	72.0	46.3	43.7	48.7	46.6	43.8	49.8
Buckinghamshire	52.9	50.0	56.1	53.7	49.9	57.6	47.9	47.3	48.7	69.9	67.5	73.0	52.7	49.1	56.6	52.8	49.9	55.8
East Sussex	45.3	42.7	48.1	52.5	47.4	56.7	39.3	37.8	42.1	54.9	48.9	60.9	46.8	41.0	53.0	45.1	42.8	47.7
Hampshire	47.0	44.2	50.0	52.3	48.6	57.0	44.1	39.6	49.0	57.3	55.3	59.1	48.2	45.5	50.9	46.8	44.0	49.8
Isle of Wight	40.1	37.7	43.0	54.5									45.7	47.1	44.2	39.9	37.4	42.8
Kent	46.3	43.7	49.0	57.6	56.6	58.7	52.7	48.4	56.8	68.1	68.3	68.0	51.1	46.8	55.3	45.4	42.9	48.0
Medway	45.7	44.0	47.4	57.0	55.5	58.3	51.5			63.4			48.4	44.5	52.8	44.4	42.8	46.1
Milton Keynes	44.9	42.6	47.5	49.5	48.1	50.8	44.6	42.0	47.3	63.2	63.4	63.0	44.3	42.7	46.5	44.3	41.7	47.0
Oxfordshire	47.6	44.8	50.4	46.3	44.3	48.2	45.2	43.3	47.9	60.3	54.8	65.1	46.2	43.3	49.7	47.7	44.9	50.5
Portsmouth	42.3	39.2	45.9	56.2	52.8	59.2	48.0			69.7			46.8	43.3	50.4	41.0	38.0	44.4
Reading	49.6	47.8	51.5	56.5	53.4	58.9	41.7	37.0	44.9	80.8	79.5	82.5	46.6	42.0	51.2	48.9	48.2	49.8
Slough	52.2	49.0	55.4	55.3	52.8	58.1							50.1	49.4	50.7	47.7	42.7	52.6
Southampton	44.2	41.5	46.8	50.9	47.3	54.5	43.0			68.6			47.3	43.4	50.5	43.1	40.7	45.4
Surrey	50.0	47.4	52.7	54.0	50.5	57.8	48.5	44.9	52.3	67.1	64.7	69.1	51.8	50.1	53.7	49.5	47.1	52.1
West Berkshire	47.4	44.5	50.5	53.5			40.4			69.9			47.9	40.8	54.0	48.0	45.2	51.1
West Sussex	46.8	43.9	49.9	49.5	46.2	52.9	39.6	35.4	44.9	53.0	57.0	50.4	48.8	46.1	52.2	46.7	43.8	49.8
Windsor and Maidenhead	49.4	47.1	51.5	49.3	45.1	53.2	49.4	44.1	53.0	43.4	34.0	51.0	45.2	43.8	45.9	49.9	47.9	51.7
Wokingham	51.7	48.8	54.8	53.8	51.2	57.2	46.1			69.2			49.7	49.7	49.7	51.7	48.6	54.9
Bath and North East Somerset	47.5	43.3	51.8	56.3	53.4	59.4	37.0			55.8			44.5	39.4	47.4	47.7	43.5	52.0
Bournemouth	48.0	45.7	50.5	55.7	54.0	57.8	44.7	42.5	46.3	59.1	72.3	43.4	48.6	49.3	47.4	47.7	45.2	50.4
Bristol, City of	44.0	40.7	47.4	46.8	44.3	49.4	39.4	39.2	39.7	52.2	48.9	56.7	44.8	40.3	48.3	44.3	40.5	48.2
Cornwall	45.7	43.3	48.3	45.4	54.2	39.9							48.2	43.8	51.8	45.7	43.3	48.3
Devon	46.5	43.8	49.4	55.8	50.0	59.8	25.2			51.8			51.5	49.1	53.7	46.4	43.7	49.3
Dorset	45.2	42.5	48.0	49.1	48.2	49.6	44.3	N/A*	44.3	55.0	56.2	53.9	46.7	42.5	51.7	45.1	42.4	48.0
Gloucestershire	48.4	45.8	51.2	56.0	55.6	56.5	40.7	36.9	43.3	60.7	66.8	57.4	48.4	45.4	51.3	48.3	45.6	51.2
Isles of Scilly	45.0	37.7	51.5	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*							44.8	36.4	51.5
North Somerset	46.0	43.3	48.7	54.9	51.7	62.9	45.5			46.3			50.8	50.0	51.9	45.8	43.1	48.5
Plymouth	44.5	42.0	47.0	52.6	51.0	54.0	40.9			64.4			44.6	37.3	51.9	44.3	42.0	46.7
Poole	51.5	48.7	54.5	60.2	53.4	68.5	49.0			62.4			55.8	54.0	57.4	51.2	48.5	54.0
Somerset	45.7	43.0	48.5	56.3	52.3	60.5	39.8	33.8	47.3	72.7	73.1	72.0	47.8	45.1	51.5	45.6	42.9	48.3
South Gloucestershire	43.7	41.1	46.6	49.3	47.3	52.3	45.2			62.7			42.8	39.0	46.6	43.6	40.8	46.5
Swindon	42.9	39.8	46.1	43.4	40.3	46.4	48.7			59.8			44.8	40.9	48.0	42.6	39.6	45.7
Torbay	49.3	47.0	51.8					N/A*								49.7	47.5	52.0
Wiltshire	46.6	44.0	49.4	60.4	53.0	65.8	44.0	46.4	41.2	60.2	56.2	67.4	52.9	51.7	54.3	46.7	44.2	49.2
All - England	46.4	43.8	49.1	50.2	47.8	52.7	45.0	41.7	48.3	63.0	61.0	65.1	47.1	44.4	49.9	46.0	43.4	48.7

^* Not applicable Data withheld to protect confidentiality

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Summary of GCSE results (‘Attainment 8’) for children aged 14 to 16 (key stage 4) GCSE-level exam results (‘Attainment 8’) by ethnicity, gender and area Summary

This data shows that:

• overall, girls had a higher average Attainment 8 score than boys for every local authority apart from Kensington and Chelsea – although boys had higher average scores than girls in some local authorities within some ethnic groups
• the biggest gaps in Attainment 8 scores between girls and boys were in Westminster for White pupils (girls scored an average of 15.7 points more); in Warrington for pupils with Mixed ethnicity (girls scored an average of 17.3 points more); in Blackpool for Asian pupils (girls scored an average of 19.2 points more); in Central Bedfordshire for Black pupils (girls scored an average of 24.3 points more); and in Bournemouth for pupils from the Chinese ethnic group (boys scored an average of 28.9 points more)
• please be aware that the statistics quoted here for Attainment 8 achievement by local authority and gender are based on small numbers of pupils and are highly variable over time

8. GCSE-level exam results (‘Attainment 8’) by ethnicity, basis for school admission and gender

• Location: England
• Time period: 2016/17
• Source: Revised GCSE and equivalent results in England: 2016 to 2017

Attainment 8 scores by ethnicity, basis for school admission and gender

	All			Asian			Black			Chinese			Mixed			White
Admissions basis	All All	All Boys	All Girls	Asian All	Asian Boys	Asian Girls	Black All	Black Boys	Black Girls	Chinese All	Chinese Boys	Chinese Girls	Mixed All	Mixed Boys	Mixed Girls	White All	White Boys	White Girls
All state-funded mainstream schools	47.1	44.8	49.5	50.5	48.1	52.9	45.6	42.5	48.6	63.2	61.3	65.2	47.9	45.4	50.3	46.8	44.5	49.1
Non-selective schools in highly selective areas	42.1	39.8	44.3	46.1	43.4	49.0	45.2	41.9	48.5	55.6	52.3	60.1	43.7	40.7	46.8	41.5	39.4	43.7
Non-selective schools in other areas (inc. low selective areas)	46.5	44.1	48.9	48.8	46.3	51.4	44.8	41.8	47.8	60.2	58.1	62.3	46.8	44.3	49.2	46.3	44.0	48.6
Selective schools	69.3	67.8	70.9	72.9	71.9	74.0	70.5	68.3	72.3	76.8	75.1	78.8	71.4	69.7	73.1	68.0	66.3	69.7

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Summary of GCSE results (‘Attainment 8’) for children aged 14 to 16 (key stage 4) GCSE-level exam results (‘Attainment 8’) by ethnicity, basis for school admission and gender Summary

This data groups schools by admissions type into the following three categories, according to whether they select their pupils by ability:

• selective schools
• non-selective schools in highly selective areas (where 25% or more of state-funded secondary places are in state-funded selective schools)
• all other non-selective schools (including schools in local authorities with some selection, as well as those with no selection)

In 2016/17, 22,715 pupils at the end of key stage 4 were in selective schools, 33,611 in non-selective schools in highly selective areas, and 460,255 in non-selective schools in other areas.

This data shows that:

• girls had a higher average Attainment 8 score than boys across all types of school and all ethnic groups
• girls from the Chinese ethnic group in selective schools had the highest average score for Attainment 8 (78.8) out of all ethnic groups, types of school and among boys and girls; White boys in non-selective schools in highly selective areas had the lowest (39.4)
• overall, the biggest difference in scores between boys and girls was found among Chinese pupils in non-selective schools in highly selective areas
• the smallest difference in scores between boys and girls was among Asian pupils in selective schools
• for White pupils, the biggest gap between girls and boys was found in non-selective schools in non-selective areas, where girls scored an average of 4.6 points more than boys

9. GCSE-level exam results (‘Attainment 8’) by ethnicity and type of school

• Location: England
• Time period: 2016/17
• Source: Revised GCSE and equivalent results in England: 2016 to 2017

Attainment 8 scores by ethnicity and type of school

	All		Asian		Black		Chinese		Mixed		White
School Type	All Score	All Pupils	Asian Score	Asian Pupils	Black Score	Black Pupils	Chinese Score	Chinese Pupils	Mixed Score	Mixed Pupils	White Score	White Pupils
Academies and free schools	47.8	343,917	51.9	32,383	46.4	16,747	64.7	1,466	48.8	15,314	47.3	268,974
All state-funded mainstream schools	47.1	517,756	50.5	52,047	45.6	27,385	63.2	2,053	47.9	23,009	46.8	398,259
All state-funded schools	46.3	527,859	49.8	52,787	44.8	27,922	62.6	2,073	47.0	23,483	45.9	406,342
Converter academies	49.9	250,283	54.1	22,782	47.9	10,066	66.5	1,183	51.0	10,770	49.4	199,607
Free schools	48.7	3,362	54.0	847	46.2	260	56.3	19	48.4	196	46.9	1,860
Further education colleges with provision for 14- to 16-year-olds	14.2	1,175	1.5	12	2.0	11			3.8	7	9.3	78
Local authority maintained mainstream schools	46.0	172,106	48.2	19,620	44.4	10,604	59.3	583	46.1	7,638	45.7	128,774
Sponsored academies	42.2	86,459	46.2	8,424	44.3	6,204	56.8	261	43.6	4,182	41.4	64,659
State-funded special schools	2.7	10,103	1.1	740	1.7	537	0.4	20	3.5	474	2.9	8,083
Studio schools	36.5	1,258	40.6	78	43.5	27			34.9	46	36.1	1,046
University technical colleges	37.5	2,555	39.6	252	36.3	190			35.8	120	37.6	1,802

Data withheld to protect confidentiality

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Summary of GCSE results (‘Attainment 8’) for children aged 14 to 16 (key stage 4) GCSE-level exam results (‘Attainment 8’) by ethnicity and type of school Summary

In 2016/17, 65% of pupils at the end of key stage 4 were educated in academies and free schools, 33% in local authority-maintained mainstream schools, 2% in state-funded special schools.

This data shows that:

• overall, across all state-funded mainstream schools (but excluding state-funded special schools), pupils from the Chinese ethnic group had the highest average Attainment 8 score (63.2) and Black pupils the lowest (45.6)
• pupils from the Chinese ethnic group also had the highest average Attainment 8 scores and Black pupils the lowest within most types of state-funded mainstream school (local authority-maintained mainstream school, and academy or free school); sponsored academies were the exception, with White pupils (41.4) scoring lower than Black pupils (44.3)

10. GCSE-level exam results (‘Attainment 8’) by ethnicity, special education needs (SEN) and gender

• Location: England
• Time period: 2016/17
• Source: Revised GCSE and equivalent results in England: 2016 to 2017

Attainment 8 scores by ethnicity, special education needs (SEN) and gender

	All			Asian			Black			Chinese			Mixed			White
SEN	All All	All Boys	All Girls	Asian All	Asian Boys	Asian Girls	Black All	Black Boys	Black Girls	Chinese All	Chinese Boys	Chinese Girls	Mixed All	Mixed Boys	Mixed Girls	White All	White Boys	White Girls
All SEN	27.1	25.9	29.2	27.6	26.4	29.5	27.1	25.5	29.6	36.5	36.5	36.5	27.7	26.2	30.2	27.0	25.9	29.1
No identified SEN	49.5	47.6	51.4	52.5	50.4	54.5	47.9	45.1	50.5	64.3	62.5	66.1	50.3	48.3	52.2	49.1	47.2	50.9
SEN Support	31.9	30.9	33.4	32.7	31.4	34.6	31.7	30.5	33.5	44.0	43.1	45.8	32.6	31.4	34.1	31.8	30.9	33.2
SEN with a statement or EHC plan	13.9	14.5	12.4	13.1	13.5	12.2	12.9	13.5	11.4	18.1	18.0	18.1	13.9	14.3	12.8	14.1	14.6	12.5

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Summary of GCSE results (‘Attainment 8’) for children aged 14 to 16 (key stage 4) GCSE-level exam results (‘Attainment 8’) by ethnicity, special education needs (SEN) and gender Summary

Pupils with special education needs (SEN) have learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for them to learn than most students of the same age.

The data categorises pupils as follows:

• all SEN: pupils either receiving SEN support, or with a SEN statement or an education, health and care (EHC) plan
• no identified SEN: pupils with no special needs
• SEN support: pupils who are given extra or different help from that provided as part of the school’s usual curriculum, and whose class teacher and SEN coordinator (SENCO) may receive advice or support from outside specialists
• SEN with a statement or EHC plan: pupils who are given a SEN statement or EHC plan once a formal assessment of their needs has been made

In 2016/17, there were 74,420 pupils with special education needs at the end of key stage 4. Of these, 79% were White, 5% had Mixed ethnicity, 8% were Asian, 6% were Black and 0.2% were from the Chinese ethnic group.

This data shows that:

• of the 74,420 SEN pupils in total, 74% had SEN support and 26% had an SEN statement or EHC plan
• out of all pupils with special education needs across all ethnic groups, those from the Chinese ethnic group had the highest average Attainment 8 score (36.5) and White pupils had the lowest (27.0)
• among pupils with special education needs, the biggest difference between boys and girls in Attainment 8 achievement was found among Black pupils and those with Mixed ethnicity – in both groups, girls scored 4 points more than boys on average

11. GCSE-level exam results (‘Attainment 8’) by ethnicity, religion of school and gender

• Location: England
• Time period: 2016/17
• Source: Revised GCSE and equivalent results in England: 2016 to 2017

Attainment 8 scores by ethnicity, religion of school and gender

	All			Asian			Black			Chinese			Mixed			White
Religious character	All All	All Boys	All Girls	Asian All	Asian Boys	Asian Girls	Black All	Black Boys	Black Girls	Chinese All	Chinese Boys	Chinese Girls	Mixed All	Mixed Boys	Mixed Girls	White All	White Boys	White Girls
All state-funded mainstream schools	47.1	44.8	49.5	50.5	48.1	52.9	45.6	42.5	48.6	63.2	61.3	65.2	47.9	45.4	50.3	46.8	44.5	49.1
Church of England schools	48.1	46.1	50.2	51.9	51.0	53.1	46.3	42.7	49.6	64.2	65.3	62.3	48.7	47.5	50.1	47.9	45.8	50.0
Hindu school	54.9	53.6	56.8
Jewish schools	58.6	56.7	60.5	58.2	55.1	63.5	42.5			58.5			52.4	50.9	53.7	57.8	55.3	60.0
Muslim schools	56.6	55.9	56.9	57.1	56.4	57.4	50.1	51.5	48.8	N/A*	N/A*	N/A*					N/A*
No religious character	46.9	44.5	49.3	50.0	47.6	52.5	45.0	41.9	48.1	63.1	60.7	65.6	47.5	45.0	50.1	46.5	44.2	48.8
Other Christian faith schools	48.2	46.5	50.1	58.9	57.0	61.4	46.3	42.8	50.5	66.8	65.4	69.1	52.0	51.6	52.5	46.8	45.0	48.6
Roman Catholic schools	49.0	46.8	51.1	52.2	49.7	54.9	47.6	45.1	49.6	61.5	60.3	62.3	49.0	46.4	51.2	48.8	46.6	50.9
Sikh school	54.5	52.6	56.7	55.0	53.3	57.2		N/A*		N/A*	N/A*	N/A*					N/A*

^* Not applicable Data withheld to protect confidentiality

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Summary of GCSE results (‘Attainment 8’) for children aged 14 to 16 (key stage 4) GCSE-level exam results (‘Attainment 8’) by ethnicity, religion of school and gender Summary

This data divides schools into the following religious categories:

• no religious character
• Church of England schools
• Roman Catholic schools
• Other Christian faith schools (including those of mixed denomination or other Christian beliefs, for example, Greek Orthodox)
• Jewish schools
• Muslim schools
• Sikh schools
• Hindu school

There were 517,756 pupils at the end of key stage 4 attending state-funded mainstream schools in 2016/17. 82% of pupils attended schools with no religious character, 10% attended Roman Catholic schools, 6% attended Church of England schools, 2% attended Other Christian faith schools, 0.3% attended Jewish schools, 0.1% attended Muslim schools, 0.1% attended Sikh schools and 0.02% attended a Hindu school.

The data shows that:

• overall, pupils at Jewish schools had the highest average Attainment 8 score (58.6), and those at schools with no religious character had the lowest (46.9)
• girls from the Chinese ethnic group at Other Christian faith schools had the highest average score (69.1) out of all ethnic groups and religious categories of school, and Black boys at schools with no religious character had the lowest (41.9)
• White pupils did best at Jewish schools (where they scored an average of 57.8) and worst at schools with no religious character (where they scored an average of 46.5)

12. Methodology

The key stage 4 datasets are compiled using information matched together from three data sources:

• prior attainment records (key stage 2 results)
• school census records
• qualification entries and results collected from awarding bodies

The census data is provided for all pupils aged 5 and over on 31 August 2016. Any information that still needs to be collected is recorded as ‘not yet obtained’.

If a pupil or parent refused to give information, this is recorded as 'refused'.

These statistics include pupils whose ethnicity was not obtained, who refused to respond, or whose ethnicity could not be determined.

Key stage 4 data received from awarding bodies are combined with pupil characteristics from the school census and prior attainment. Records are matched, using identifiers such as surname, forename, date of birth, UPN, gender and postcode. This successfully matches around 98% of results.

The statistics in this commission cover the data collated for the 2017 secondary school performance tables. The performance tables and the related statistical first release report results based on pupils at the end of key stage 4, who are typically aged 15 at the start of the academic year.

The coverage of the local authority and regional statistics is state-funded schools in England. This includes city technology colleges and academies but excludes hospital schools, pupil referral units and alternative provision.

Pupils are included in the figures for free school meals (FSM) if their families have claimed eligibility for FSM at the time of the annual spring school census. This FSM definition includes all who were eligible to receive free school meals, not only those who actually received free school meals. Pupils not eligible for free school meals or unclassified pupils are described as ‘Non-FSM’ or ‘All other pupils’.

Parents are able to claim FSM if they receive a qualifying benefit.

FSM is used as an indicator of disadvantage, but when drawing conclusions, it should be remembered that not all eligible parents apply for FSM and families who do not quite reach the eligibility threshold for FSM may still be suffering deprivation.

Suppression rules and disclosure control

Values of 1 or 2, or a percentage based on 1 or 2 pupils who achieved; or 0, 1 or 2 pupils who did not achieve a particular level are suppressed in circumstances where non-suppression would lead to disclosure of pupils. Some additional figures have been suppressed to prevent the possibility of a suppressed figure being revealed.

This suppression is consistent with DfE’s statistical policy statement on confidentiality (PDF opens in a new window or tab) (PDF). The Code of Practice for Official Statistics requires DfE to take reasonable steps to ensure that their published or disseminated statistics protect confidentiality.

Rounding

Figures in charts and tables are rounded to the 1 decimal place. In the downloads, percentages and Attainment 8 scores are rounded to 1 decimal place.

Related publications

Schools, pupils and their characteristics: January 2017

Quality and methodology information

13. Data sources

Source

Revised GCSE and equivalent results in England: 2016 to 2017

Type of data

Administrative data

Type of statistic

National Statistics

Publisher

Department for Education

Publication frequency

Yearly

Purpose of data source

The main purpose is to measure schools’ and pupils’ performance at key stage 4 (GCSE), both to monitor and improve standards and inform parental choice.

14. Download the data

GCSE results (‘Attainment 8’) for children aged 14 to 16 (key stage 4) by local authority - Spreadsheet (csv) 440 KB

This file contains the following: ethnicity, year, local authority, gender, value and denominator

GCSE results (‘Attainment 8’) for children aged 14 to 16 (key stage 4) in England - Spreadsheet (csv) 140 KB

This file contains the following: ethnicity, year, gender, FSM, admissions basis, type of school, SEN, religious character, value and denominator

Publication release date: 9 October 2018

Updated: 2 May 2019

full page history

1. 2 May 2019 The percentage symbol (%) removed from figure 1 as the figure presents scores and not percentages
2. 16 April 2019 Estimates for a number of ethnic groups in tables 2, 4 and 5 and the download file were incorrectly aligned. The estimates have now been aligned with the correct ethnic group.
3. 1 April 2019 Updated labels in charts and tables, added description for search engines
4. 9 October 2018 Updated with latest data (2016/17)

From: Department for Education

Previous edition:

1. 5 March 2018

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