School data, explained

What the official numbers on ABC Edu mean, where they come from and what they can’t tell you — in plain English.

• Ofsted inspections explained: grades, report cards and what changed

  How Ofsted inspects state schools in England, why there are three different kinds of outcome since 2024 — overall grades, sub-grades only, and the new report cards — and how to read them.

  Checked 18 October 2026

• Primary school results explained: key stage 2 (Year 6)

  What the Year 6 measures mean — the expected and higher standards in reading, writing and maths, and average scaled scores — and why there are no progress scores for 2024/25.

  Checked 18 October 2026

• Secondary school results explained: GCSEs, Attainment 8 and Progress 8

  What Attainment 8, Progress 8, the English and maths pass rates and the EBacc mean, how to read Progress 8 and its confidence interval, and why the latest Progress 8 is from 2023/24.

  Checked 18 October 2026

• Sixth form results explained: 16 to 18

  How to read sixth form results: A level average grades and points, best 3 A levels, AAB, value added progress scores and bands, and retention.

  Checked 18 October 2026

• Pupils, attendance and needs explained

  What the pupil figures on ABC Edu mean: free school meals, disadvantaged pupils, special educational needs, English as an additional language, and overall and persistent absence.

  Checked 18 October 2026

• How school admissions work in England

  How to apply for a primary or secondary school place, the deadlines (31 October and 15 January), offer days, admission criteria, waiting lists and appeals.

  Checked 18 October 2026