Data Stories
UK Data
Insight into the UK's education system through data
- Consistent with 2017 and 2018 findings, 1 in 2 disadvantaged pupils and around 4 in 5 (78%) of pupils from affluent backgrounds reach the English and Maths benchmark by age 19.
- Therefore, across the year years, advantaged students are 55% more likely to attain a 4/C in their GCSE Maths and English.
- In several LEAs, advantaged pupils were twice as likely to achieve the two qualifications than their less affluent peers: Blaby; Bromsgrove; Copeland; Mole Valley; North Warwickshire and South Bucks.
Proportion of students with a Level 2 qualification in English and Maths by age 19 across Local Education Authority (LEA) in England.
- The proportion of students who reached the age of 19 with a level 2 (e.g., GCSE or Functional Skills qualification) in Maths and English, as of 2017.
- On average, around 4 in 5 (78%) of advantaged pupils passed (i.e., attained a C/4 or higher) the two subjects by the time they exited compulsory education.
- By contrast, 1 in 2 disadvantaged students met this benchmark. This is consistent with recorded outcomes in 2017.
- As was the case the previous year, the Isles of Scilly was the only LEA where disadvantaged pupils were more likely to pass their Level 2 Maths and English than their more affluent peers.
Proportion of students with a Level 2 qualification in English and Maths by age 19 across Local Education Authority (LEA) in England.
- The proportion of students who reached the age of 19 with a level 2 (e.g., GCSE or Functional Skills qualification) in Maths and English in 2017.
- On average, 4 in 5 (78%) of advantaged pupils passed (i.e., attained a C/4 or higher) the two subjects by the time they exited compulsory education.
- By contrast, typically 1 in 2 disadvantaged students met this benchmark.
- The Isles of Scilly was the only local authority where disadvantaged students were more likely to attain a C/4 or higher in both subjects at Level 2 than their more affluent peers.
Proportion of students with a Level 2 qualification in English and Maths by age 19 across Local Education Authority (LEA) in England.
- The number of individuals recorded as being in education, employment or training by local authority over the time period 2014 to 2018.
- There is significant variation in five-year changes to the % of FE leavers identified as in Sustained Positive Destinations across local authorities, ranging between -71% (East Herefordshire) and 107% (Sedgemoor)
- Sustained positive destinations refer to those FE leavers recorded as being in education, employment or both.
*2016 entries excluded due to data gaps.
Variation in the proportion of Further Education (FE) leavers recorded as being in education, employment or training after course completion by local authority.
- On average, slightly below 3 in 4 (72.48%) of A Levels across the listed regions were accredited an A*-C in 2018/19.
- The percentage of top awards regionally varied between 60% in Sandwell to 87% observed in York (rounded to the nearest whole number).
- A*-B regional performance is a statistically significant predictor for the regional variation of A-Levels accredited an A*-C (p<0.001).
- Schools in London, the South East and West Midlands typically outperform those in the East of England and South West. However, higher performance is only statistically significant in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North East (p<0.05).
*Data not available for Knowsley.
A Level Entries graded A*-C by region
- On average, slightly under 1 in 2 (46.15%) of A Levels across the listed regions were accredited an A*, A or B in 2018/19.
- The percentage of awards graded higher than a C regionally varied between 30% in Sandwell to 67% observed in Trafford (rounded to the nearest whole number).
- The percentage of qualifications awarded an A* or A is a statistically significant predictor of A*-B attainment (p<0.001). Therefore, those areas that had a higher percentage of A*-As typically observed a comparatively higher percentage of A*B awards.
- The North West and South West typically outperformed other regions in the percentage of A-Level qualifications awarded as A*, A or B. However, this is not statistically significant (p>0.05).
*Data not available for Knowsley.
A Level Entries graded A*-B by region
- On average, 1 in 5 (20.33%) of A Levels across the listed regions were accredited an A or A* in the 2018/19 during the 2018/2019 examination series.
- The percentage of top awards regionally varied between 10% in Sandwell to 43% observed in Reading (rounded to the nearest whole number).
*Data unavailable for Knowsley.
A Level Entries graded A*-A by region
- A-Level Subjects include: Maths; Further Maths; Biology; Chemistry; Physics and Computing.
- Nationally, there were more were more provisional female than male entrants into STEM subjects across the 2020/2021 year group (56.45% versus 43.55%).
- Follows 2019 trends, when female students first overtook male students in STEM A-Level subjects.
- Female entries into Computing and Further Maths are notably low compared to other STEM subjects. Over 19 times more female students take Biology than Computing, on average.
- Students from the North West, South East, West Midlands and London are statistically more likely to take STEM subjects at A Level compared to pupils studying at schools in the North East, South West and East Midlands (p<0.001).
Percentage of female entries for STEM A-Level subjects based on Provisional Entries Data
- On average 49.9% students achieve a grade 5+ in both English and Maths
- Results vary significantly by constituency
- Over 70% students achieve these grades in 5 constituencies – Altrincham and Sale West, Wycombe, Hitchin and Harpenden, Southend West and Chipping Barnet
- In 4 constituencies, 27% or below achieve these grades – Great Grimsby, Knowsley, Nottingham North and Bootle
Proportion of GCSE students achieving 5+ in both English and Maths in 2020 by Constituency
- On average, 49.9% of pupils in England achieved a grade 5 or above in both English and Maths.
- Performance by Local Education Authority varies significantly.
- In Trafford LEA, 68% of students reached this level; in Knowsley, 30 miles away, the figure was 27%.
Proportion of GCSE students achieving grade 5+ in both English and Maths in 2020 by LEA

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Lee Elliot Major investigates how the education system can support students that attain a grade 3 and below in their GCSE maths and English.
2021:EBacc Pass Rate by Subject Pillar and Local Authority
How do demographic patterns in EBacc pillar pass rates compare to 2019 and 2020?
2020: EBacc Pass Rate by Subject Pillar and Local Authority
The regional variation in GCSE EBacc pillar pass rates closes in 2020. .
2019: EBacc Pass Rate by Subject Pillar and Local Authority
How does the GCSE pass rate for EBacc subjects vary by Local Authority?

The Birth of GCSEs: Four decades on, what were the reasons for GCSEs?
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Making the grades – How does an exam turn into a qualification?
AQi considers how exam boards make sure that grades reflect the hard work and effort put in by students.
2019: Proportion of students achieving a Level 2 qualification in English and Maths by 19
The disadvantage gap is consistent with 2017 and 2018 findings.