14 metrics

Education

Attainment, absence, exclusions, special educational needs, participation and the teaching workforce.

• Census 2021 highest qualification by country of birthPublished as breakdowns only; no headline series
• Persistent absence2024/25 academic year · down 1.8 points on a year earlier18.1%
• Severe absence2024/25 academic year · up 0.1 points on a year earlier2.4%
• Pupils persistently absent2024/25 academic year · down 9.9% on a year earlier1,340,437pupils
• Pupils with an education, health and care plan2025/26 academic year · up 11.6% on a year earlier538,547pupils
• Pupils with an EHC plan, share2025/26 academic year · up 0.7 points on a year earlier6%
• Pupils on SEN support, share2025/26 academic year · up 0.6 points on a year earlier14.8%
• Average Attainment 8 score2024/25 academic year · up 0.4% on a year earlier46.1
• Apprenticeship starts2025/26 academic year · down 12.7% on a year earlier308,770starts
• Apprenticeship achievements2025/26 academic year · down 26.3% on a year earlier146,210achievements
• Young people not in education, employment or training2025 · down 0.3 points on a year earlier13.3%
• Young people NEET, number2025 · up 0.4% on a year earlier839,893people
• Average primary class size2025/26 academic year · down 1.2% on a year earlier26.1
• Average secondary class size2025/26 academic year · up 0.4% on a year earlier22.6