Blog: What is Attainment 8
When it comes to evaluating the performance of schools in England, one key metric that has gained significant attention in recent years is Attainment 8. This blog post aims to shed light on what Attainment 8 is, how it works, and why it is an important tool for comparing schools and assessing student achievement.
What is Attainment 8?
Attainment 8 is a performance measure introduced by the Department for Education (DfE) in England in 2016. It is designed to capture the average achievement of students across a set of eight subjects at the end of Key Stage 4 (typically when students are 16 years old). The measure provides a standardized way to compare the academic performance of schools and individual students.
How is Attainment 8 calculated?
Attainment 8 is calculated by assigning points to each grade a student achieves in their chosen subjects. The points are then added together and divided by 10 (the maximum number of qualifications counted in the measure) to create an average score per student.
The eight subjects included in Attainment 8 are:
- English (double-weighted if both Language and Literature are taken)
- Mathematics (double-weighted)
- Three English Baccalaureate (EBacc) qualifications from sciences, computer science, geography, history, and languages
- Three additional approved qualifications, which can be from the EBacc subjects or any other approved qualifications
It's important to note that the student's best grades are used for each category. For example, if a student takes multiple science subjects, only the three highest-graded scores will be included in the Attainment 8 calculation.
Why is Attainment 8 important?
Attainment 8 provides a comprehensive picture of a student's academic performance across a range of subjects. By considering a broader set of qualifications, rather than just focusing on a few core subjects, Attainment 8 offers a more balanced assessment of student achievement.
For schools, Attainment 8 serves as a key performance indicator, allowing them to benchmark their students' progress against other schools in the country. This information can be used to identify areas of strength and weakness, informing decisions about curriculum design, teaching strategies, and resource allocation.
Parents and students can also benefit from understanding Attainment 8 scores when making decisions about secondary school choices. Comparing the Attainment 8 scores of different schools provides valuable insights into the academic performance and overall quality of education offered by each institution.
Conclusion
Attainment 8 has become a crucial metric for evaluating the performance of schools and students in England. By providing a standardized measure of achievement across a range of subjects and using the best-graded scores for each category, Attainment 8 offers a comprehensive picture of academic success. As schools continue to strive for excellence and parents seek the best educational opportunities for their children, understanding Attainment 8 will remain an essential tool in making informed decisions and driving improvements in the education system.
You can view the Attainment 8 score on School Ratings under the "GCSE Results" section on a school page. When purchasing a premium pass you will also be able to see the percentile rank which shows where that school lies in comparison to all the other schools in England, and the local authority that the school is in. There is also a filter on the map (click the box in the right hand corner) that allows you to restrict schools to those that meet a minimum percentile rank for Attainment 8.