How are England's schools doing?
64.8% of pupils got a grade 4 or above in GCSE English and maths in 2024-25. 18.1% of pupils missed at least one school day in ten in 2024-25, and the average primary class had 26.1 pupils.
The detail
Each page has the figures, the trend, a table and the questions people ask.
Grade 4 or above in English and maths, Attainment 8 and grade 5.
See GCSE results →Pupils meeting the expected standard at age 11.
See key stage 2 →Pupils persistently or severely absent.
See absence →Average pupils per class, primary and secondary.
See class sizes →Apprenticeship starts and university prices.
See after school →Education spending and higher education enrolment.
Compare countries →What the government spends on schools and universities.
See spending →In numbers
Each measure’s recent trend (up to ten years), with the latest figure.
| Measure | Recent trend | Latest |
|---|---|---|
| GCSE English and maths at grade 4 or above 2024-25 | 64.8% | |
| Pupils meeting the expected standard at age 11 2025-26 | 63% | |
| Pupils persistently absent 2024-25 | 18.1% | |
| Average primary class size 2025-26 | 26.1 |
At a glance
What’s this?
The share of 16-year-olds in England who got at least a grade 4 (a standard pass) in both English and maths.
What it cannot tell you: Grades in 2020 to 2022 were awarded differently because exams were cancelled or changed, so the series is not a clean trend.
What’s this?
The share of year 6 pupils in England who met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths together in their Key Stage 2 tests and assessments.
What it cannot tell you: There were no tests in 2020 and 2021, and the writing assessment changed in 2016, so compare 2017 onward.
What’s this?
The share of pupils in England who missed at least one in ten possible sessions (half days) in the school year, for any reason.
What it cannot tell you: The definition of persistent absence changed from 15% to 10% of sessions in 2015-16, so earlier years are not comparable.
What’s this?
The average number of pupils in a primary school class taught by one teacher in England, on census day in January.
What it cannot tell you: An average hides classes of 30 and above, and a class of 30 is not necessarily the best fit for every child.
Questions people ask
Are these figures for the whole UK?
No. Schools are devolved, so the Department for Education's figures cover England only.
Where can I get a classroom pack on this?
See the classroom packs.
Sources: Department for Education (Explore education statistics), ONS (prices), World Bank (comparisons). Updated every night. Each chart has a CSV and a Share button.
See also: Classroom packs · Everything over time