FFT Education Datalab
@fftedudatalab.bsky.social
FFT Education Datalab produces independent, cutting-edge research on education policy and practice.
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GCSE results 2025: The main trends in grades and entries - FFT Education Datalab
Our round-up of everything you need to know about this year's GCSE results.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
Our analysis of GCSE results day 2025 is now out.
🔸 Grades are up very slightly from last year
🔸 The gender gap in grading is closing
🔸 Entries to triple science are down and double up
🔸 Re-take entries are up, but grades remain low
vist.ly/445pr
🔸 Grades are up very slightly from last year
🔸 The gender gap in grading is closing
🔸 Entries to triple science are down and double up
🔸 Re-take entries are up, but grades remain low
vist.ly/445pr
Interested in our research? Sign up to our mailing list to receive blogposts and reports as they come out.
vist.ly/4izwy
vist.ly/4izwy
Interested in our research? Sign up to our mailing list to receive blogposts and reports as they come out.
vist.ly/4izwy
Interested in our research? Sign up to our mailing list to receive blogposts and reports as they come out.
vist.ly/4izwy
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
December 18, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Interested in our research? Sign up to our mailing list to receive blogposts and reports as they come out.
vist.ly/4izwy
vist.ly/4izwy
📣 UPDATE: The latest KS2 attainment data has now been added to Schools Like Yours.
Our free Schools Like Yours tool is designed to help you benchmark your school against a group of similar schools, where you get to choose how similar is defined.
vist.ly/4i9mj
Our free Schools Like Yours tool is designed to help you benchmark your school against a group of similar schools, where you get to choose how similar is defined.
vist.ly/4i9mj
Schools Like Yours - FFT Education Datalab
Schools Like Yours - FFT Education Datalab
schoolslikeyours.ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
December 12, 2025 at 10:14 AM
📣 UPDATE: The latest KS2 attainment data has now been added to Schools Like Yours.
Our free Schools Like Yours tool is designed to help you benchmark your school against a group of similar schools, where you get to choose how similar is defined.
vist.ly/4i9mj
Our free Schools Like Yours tool is designed to help you benchmark your school against a group of similar schools, where you get to choose how similar is defined.
vist.ly/4i9mj
Reposted by FFT Education Datalab
Predicted grades match actual results for less than half of KS4 students, but average grades match results ‘quite closely’ across subject cohorts, @fftedudatalab.bsky.social analysis shows
Predicted grades match results for less than half of KS4 students
But average grades match results ‘quite closely’ across subject cohorts as a whole, FFT analysis also shows
www.tes.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Predicted grades match actual results for less than half of KS4 students, but average grades match results ‘quite closely’ across subject cohorts, @fftedudatalab.bsky.social analysis shows
Reposted by FFT Education Datalab
Are predicted grades accurate?
This wonderful blog from @fftedudatalab.bsky.social explores the question, and my takehome is that *on average* they might be, but for an individual student it's pretty much guesswork.
Well worth a read.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/12/pred...
This wonderful blog from @fftedudatalab.bsky.social explores the question, and my takehome is that *on average* they might be, but for an individual student it's pretty much guesswork.
Well worth a read.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/12/pred...
December 10, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Are predicted grades accurate?
This wonderful blog from @fftedudatalab.bsky.social explores the question, and my takehome is that *on average* they might be, but for an individual student it's pretty much guesswork.
Well worth a read.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/12/pred...
This wonderful blog from @fftedudatalab.bsky.social explores the question, and my takehome is that *on average* they might be, but for an individual student it's pretty much guesswork.
Well worth a read.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/12/pred...
NEW POST: Prediction accuracy at Key Stage 4
Using predicted grades and results submitted by 740 schools, we explore differences between predicted and actual grades, including variations by subject.
vist.ly/4hxx7
Using predicted grades and results submitted by 740 schools, we explore differences between predicted and actual grades, including variations by subject.
vist.ly/4hxx7
Prediction accuracy at Key Stage 4 - FFT Education Datalab
Using predicted grades and results submitted by 740 schools, we explore differences between predicted and actual grades, including variations by subject
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
December 10, 2025 at 10:00 AM
NEW POST: Prediction accuracy at Key Stage 4
Using predicted grades and results submitted by 740 schools, we explore differences between predicted and actual grades, including variations by subject.
vist.ly/4hxx7
Using predicted grades and results submitted by 740 schools, we explore differences between predicted and actual grades, including variations by subject.
vist.ly/4hxx7
Reposted by FFT Education Datalab
FFT Attendance Tracker is now updated with the latest school and national weekly attendance data up to Friday 05 December 2025.
View your school's attendance. 🔍
👇
vist.ly/4hspa
#attendancematters #education
View your school's attendance. 🔍
👇
vist.ly/4hspa
#attendancematters #education
December 9, 2025 at 9:04 AM
FFT Attendance Tracker is now updated with the latest school and national weekly attendance data up to Friday 05 December 2025.
View your school's attendance. 🔍
👇
vist.ly/4hspa
#attendancematters #education
View your school's attendance. 🔍
👇
vist.ly/4hspa
#attendancematters #education
Reposted by FFT Education Datalab
Finally, this really fascinating look at how one minor wording change really messed up PISA data by John Jerrim at @fftedudatalab.bsky.social.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/12/why-...
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/12/why-...
Why one word can break your research – and why AI won’t help. A cautionary tale from PISA - FFT Education Datalab
We look at how one small change in wording to just one PISA survey question has big implications for anyone using PISA to understand unexcused absences from school.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
December 6, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Finally, this really fascinating look at how one minor wording change really messed up PISA data by John Jerrim at @fftedudatalab.bsky.social.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/12/why-...
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/12/why-...
Reposted by FFT Education Datalab
Attainment Through a Contextual Lens 🔍
Our new Contextualised Attainment report in Aspire helps you interpret attainment data with context — providing more meaningful insight.
Explore deeper analysis when national benchmarks aren’t available.
🔗 Read more in our latest blog: vist.ly/4hbmz
Our new Contextualised Attainment report in Aspire helps you interpret attainment data with context — providing more meaningful insight.
Explore deeper analysis when national benchmarks aren’t available.
🔗 Read more in our latest blog: vist.ly/4hbmz
December 5, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Attainment Through a Contextual Lens 🔍
Our new Contextualised Attainment report in Aspire helps you interpret attainment data with context — providing more meaningful insight.
Explore deeper analysis when national benchmarks aren’t available.
🔗 Read more in our latest blog: vist.ly/4hbmz
Our new Contextualised Attainment report in Aspire helps you interpret attainment data with context — providing more meaningful insight.
Explore deeper analysis when national benchmarks aren’t available.
🔗 Read more in our latest blog: vist.ly/4hbmz
Our very own Natasha Plaister is a guest on the latest episode of the They Behave For Me podcast - with hosts @adamboxereducation.bsky.social and @amymayforrester.bsky.social. Tune in for chat about all things Datalab, including attainment gaps, the impact of COVID and KS5 subject choice.
What can educational statistics tell us about the classroom and policy? With Natasha Plaister
open.spotify.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Our very own Natasha Plaister is a guest on the latest episode of the They Behave For Me podcast - with hosts @adamboxereducation.bsky.social and @amymayforrester.bsky.social. Tune in for chat about all things Datalab, including attainment gaps, the impact of COVID and KS5 subject choice.
NEW POST: Exploring the relationship between Year 11 absence and GCSE results
We explore how much of a relationship exists between absence in Year 11 and Key Stage 4 attainment once absence in Year 10 has been accounted for.
vist.ly/4gzuc
We explore how much of a relationship exists between absence in Year 11 and Key Stage 4 attainment once absence in Year 10 has been accounted for.
vist.ly/4gzuc
Exploring the relationship between Year 11 absence and GCSE results - FFT Education Datalab
We explore the how much of a relationship exists between absence in Year 11 and Key Stage 4 attainment once absence in Year 10 has been accounted for.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
December 3, 2025 at 10:03 AM
NEW POST: Exploring the relationship between Year 11 absence and GCSE results
We explore how much of a relationship exists between absence in Year 11 and Key Stage 4 attainment once absence in Year 10 has been accounted for.
vist.ly/4gzuc
We explore how much of a relationship exists between absence in Year 11 and Key Stage 4 attainment once absence in Year 10 has been accounted for.
vist.ly/4gzuc
NEW POST: Why one word can break your research – and why AI won’t help. A cautionary tale from PISA
John Jerrim looks at how one small change in wording has big implications for anyone using PISA to understand unexcused absences from school.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/12/why-...
John Jerrim looks at how one small change in wording has big implications for anyone using PISA to understand unexcused absences from school.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/12/why-...
Why one word can break your research – and why AI won’t help. A cautionary tale from PISA - FFT Education Datalab
We look at how one small change in wording to just one PISA survey question has big implications for anyone using PISA to understand unexcused absences from school.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
December 2, 2025 at 8:37 AM
NEW POST: Why one word can break your research – and why AI won’t help. A cautionary tale from PISA
John Jerrim looks at how one small change in wording has big implications for anyone using PISA to understand unexcused absences from school.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/12/why-...
John Jerrim looks at how one small change in wording has big implications for anyone using PISA to understand unexcused absences from school.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/12/why-...
Reposted by FFT Education Datalab
This article's a mess - largely because comms around the funding change has been a mess
Allocation of the educational component of SEND funding is the ultimate responsibility of the DfE, and always has been
Thread (apologies in advance for the 'stop getting Bond wrong!' energy)
Allocation of the educational component of SEND funding is the ultimate responsibility of the DfE, and always has been
Thread (apologies in advance for the 'stop getting Bond wrong!' energy)
Warning of £20bn timebomb as Reeves switches Send funding in England to education department
Warning of £20bn timebomb as Reeves switches Send funding in England to education department
Councils welcome move but OBR says it is a significant fiscal risk and could lead to 4.9% real fall in spending per pupil
The government will take over full responsibility for special educational needs spending from local councils, it was revealed at the budget, prompting warnings that the Department for Education could be facing a £20bn timebomb in two years.
The Office for Budget Responsibility said the annual costs of special educational needs and disability (Send) spending in England would reach £6bn a year by 2028, increasing the urgency of a potentially decisive overhaul of Send provision in a schools white paper expected early next year. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 6:46 PM
This article's a mess - largely because comms around the funding change has been a mess
Allocation of the educational component of SEND funding is the ultimate responsibility of the DfE, and always has been
Thread (apologies in advance for the 'stop getting Bond wrong!' energy)
Allocation of the educational component of SEND funding is the ultimate responsibility of the DfE, and always has been
Thread (apologies in advance for the 'stop getting Bond wrong!' energy)
Join more than 9,000 fellow teachers, education professionals and policymakers who receive our blogposts by email, as soon as they come out.
vist.ly/4fxj4
vist.ly/4fxj4
Newsletter - FFT Education Datalab
Thanks for your interest in FFT Education Datalab. Sign up to receive our newsletter, or blogposts and publications by email. First name* (*required) Last name* Email address* Type of organisation* School/collegeLocal authorityAcademy sponsorOther Mailing preferences I would like to receive the following emails from the Datalab team: Blogposts and publications Our latest research, as it comes […]
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
November 25, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Join more than 9,000 fellow teachers, education professionals and policymakers who receive our blogposts by email, as soon as they come out.
vist.ly/4fxj4
vist.ly/4fxj4
NEW POST: Contextualising attainment without Key Stage 2 baselines
We talk you through some new measures in FFT Aspire, designed to make sense of Key Stage 4 attainment in the absence of Key Stage 2 data.
vist.ly/4ffsp
We talk you through some new measures in FFT Aspire, designed to make sense of Key Stage 4 attainment in the absence of Key Stage 2 data.
vist.ly/4ffsp
Contextualising attainment without Key Stage 2 baselines - FFT Education Datalab
We talk you through some new measures in FFT Aspire, designed to make sense of Key Stage 4 attainment in the absence of Key Stage 2 data.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
November 21, 2025 at 9:46 AM
NEW POST: Contextualising attainment without Key Stage 2 baselines
We talk you through some new measures in FFT Aspire, designed to make sense of Key Stage 4 attainment in the absence of Key Stage 2 data.
vist.ly/4ffsp
We talk you through some new measures in FFT Aspire, designed to make sense of Key Stage 4 attainment in the absence of Key Stage 2 data.
vist.ly/4ffsp
Reposted by FFT Education Datalab
FFT Attendance Tracker is now updated with the latest school and national weekly attendance data up to Friday 14 November 2025.
View your school's attendance. 🔍
👇
vist.ly/4exzg
#attendancematters #education
View your school's attendance. 🔍
👇
vist.ly/4exzg
#attendancematters #education
November 18, 2025 at 9:00 AM
FFT Attendance Tracker is now updated with the latest school and national weekly attendance data up to Friday 14 November 2025.
View your school's attendance. 🔍
👇
vist.ly/4exzg
#attendancematters #education
View your school's attendance. 🔍
👇
vist.ly/4exzg
#attendancematters #education
NEW POST: Who might take the new V-Levels?
We look at the routes students are currently taking through post-16 education and what this can tell us about the students who might take V-Levels in the future.
vist.ly/4f5g2
We look at the routes students are currently taking through post-16 education and what this can tell us about the students who might take V-Levels in the future.
vist.ly/4f5g2
Who might take the new V-Levels? - FFT Education Datalab
We look at the routes students are currently taking through post-16 education and what this can tell us about the students who might take V-Levels in the future.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
November 19, 2025 at 11:59 AM
NEW POST: Who might take the new V-Levels?
We look at the routes students are currently taking through post-16 education and what this can tell us about the students who might take V-Levels in the future.
vist.ly/4f5g2
We look at the routes students are currently taking through post-16 education and what this can tell us about the students who might take V-Levels in the future.
vist.ly/4f5g2
NEW POST: Why designing the Year 8 diagnostic maths test might be harder than you think
We explore the technical and design challenges of creating genuinely useful diagnostic tests, based on @nuffieldfoundation.org funded research.
vist.ly/4ey4q
We explore the technical and design challenges of creating genuinely useful diagnostic tests, based on @nuffieldfoundation.org funded research.
vist.ly/4ey4q
Why designing the Year 8 diagnostic maths test might be harder than you think - FFT Education Datalab
We explore the technical and design challenges of creating genuinely useful diagnostic tests.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
November 18, 2025 at 10:02 AM
NEW POST: Why designing the Year 8 diagnostic maths test might be harder than you think
We explore the technical and design challenges of creating genuinely useful diagnostic tests, based on @nuffieldfoundation.org funded research.
vist.ly/4ey4q
We explore the technical and design challenges of creating genuinely useful diagnostic tests, based on @nuffieldfoundation.org funded research.
vist.ly/4ey4q
Reposted by FFT Education Datalab
❗️ Proposed changes to league tables will make 'little difference' to the progress 8 scores of most schools, but will likely affect entries, with just 65% of current students filling all slots on the reformed measures, @fftedudatalab.bsky.social analysis suggests
schoolsweek.co.uk/progress-8-a...
schoolsweek.co.uk/progress-8-a...
Progress 8: Many pupils' entries don't fit reformed measure
Changes will make 'little difference' to scores but likely to affect qualification entries, finds analysis
schoolsweek.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 9:32 AM
❗️ Proposed changes to league tables will make 'little difference' to the progress 8 scores of most schools, but will likely affect entries, with just 65% of current students filling all slots on the reformed measures, @fftedudatalab.bsky.social analysis suggests
schoolsweek.co.uk/progress-8-a...
schoolsweek.co.uk/progress-8-a...
NEW POST: What difference will the proposed changes to Attainment 8 and Progress 8 make?
The proposed new method of calculating Attainment 8 will not affect schools' Progress 8 scores greatly but will shift the incentives to enter particular subjects.
vist.ly/4esnb
The proposed new method of calculating Attainment 8 will not affect schools' Progress 8 scores greatly but will shift the incentives to enter particular subjects.
vist.ly/4esnb
What difference will the proposed changes to Attainment 8 and Progress 8 make? - FFT Education Datalab
The proposed new method of calculating Attainment 8 will not affect schools' Progress 8 scores greatly but will shift the incentives to enter particular subjects
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
November 17, 2025 at 9:32 AM
NEW POST: What difference will the proposed changes to Attainment 8 and Progress 8 make?
The proposed new method of calculating Attainment 8 will not affect schools' Progress 8 scores greatly but will shift the incentives to enter particular subjects.
vist.ly/4esnb
The proposed new method of calculating Attainment 8 will not affect schools' Progress 8 scores greatly but will shift the incentives to enter particular subjects.
vist.ly/4esnb
Reposted by FFT Education Datalab
There is no sign of "stubbornly high" absence levels coming down from last year's levels according to new analysis from the start of the 2025-26 year by @fftedudatalab.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...
Pupil absence remains ‘stubbornly high’ this year
Analysis of 2025-26 attendance rates so far shows absence levels remain similar to figures from the same time last year
www.tes.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:36 AM
There is no sign of "stubbornly high" absence levels coming down from last year's levels according to new analysis from the start of the 2025-26 year by @fftedudatalab.bsky.social www.tes.com/magazine/new...
NEW POST: How much does KS2 maths attainment vary by national curriculum area?
We bring you highlights from new research funded by
@nuffieldfoundation.org into KS2 maths sub-domain scores - and whether those scores are genuinely useful to schools.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/11/how-...
We bring you highlights from new research funded by
@nuffieldfoundation.org into KS2 maths sub-domain scores - and whether those scores are genuinely useful to schools.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/11/how-...
How much does KS2 maths attainment vary by national curriculum area? - FFT Education Datalab
We bring you the highlights from Nuffield-funded research into Key Stage 2 mathematics sub-domain scores - and whether it is possible to produce scores that are genuinely useful to teachers and school...
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
November 14, 2025 at 9:35 AM
NEW POST: How much does KS2 maths attainment vary by national curriculum area?
We bring you highlights from new research funded by
@nuffieldfoundation.org into KS2 maths sub-domain scores - and whether those scores are genuinely useful to schools.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/11/how-...
We bring you highlights from new research funded by
@nuffieldfoundation.org into KS2 maths sub-domain scores - and whether those scores are genuinely useful to schools.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2025/11/how-...
NEW POST: Pupil absence at the start of Autumn Term 2025
We bring you the latest insights from FFT Attendance Tracker, including overall absence and persistent absence figures for the first Autumn half-term.
vist.ly/4e6xh
We bring you the latest insights from FFT Attendance Tracker, including overall absence and persistent absence figures for the first Autumn half-term.
vist.ly/4e6xh
Pupil absence at the start of Autumn Term 2025 - FFT Education Datalab
We bring you the latest insights from FFT Attendance Tracker, including overall absence and persistent absence figures for the first Autumn half-term
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
November 13, 2025 at 9:32 AM
NEW POST: Pupil absence at the start of Autumn Term 2025
We bring you the latest insights from FFT Attendance Tracker, including overall absence and persistent absence figures for the first Autumn half-term.
vist.ly/4e6xh
We bring you the latest insights from FFT Attendance Tracker, including overall absence and persistent absence figures for the first Autumn half-term.
vist.ly/4e6xh
NEW POST: The inverse intervention law and education, health and care plans
Disadvantaged pupils resident in less deprived local authorities are more likely to have an EHCP than disadvantaged pupils resident in more deprived local authorities.
vist.ly/4dx2s
Disadvantaged pupils resident in less deprived local authorities are more likely to have an EHCP than disadvantaged pupils resident in more deprived local authorities.
vist.ly/4dx2s
The inverse intervention law and education, health and care plans - FFT Education Datalab
Disadvantaged pupils resident in less deprived local authorities are more likely to have an EHCP than disadvantaged pupils resident in more deprived local authorities
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
November 12, 2025 at 9:12 AM
NEW POST: The inverse intervention law and education, health and care plans
Disadvantaged pupils resident in less deprived local authorities are more likely to have an EHCP than disadvantaged pupils resident in more deprived local authorities.
vist.ly/4dx2s
Disadvantaged pupils resident in less deprived local authorities are more likely to have an EHCP than disadvantaged pupils resident in more deprived local authorities.
vist.ly/4dx2s
Reposted by FFT Education Datalab
FFT Attendance Tracker is now updated with the latest school and national weekly attendance data up to Friday 7 November 2025.
View your school's attendance. 🔍
👇
vist.ly/4dskc
#attendancematters #education
View your school's attendance. 🔍
👇
vist.ly/4dskc
#attendancematters #education
November 11, 2025 at 9:00 AM
FFT Attendance Tracker is now updated with the latest school and national weekly attendance data up to Friday 7 November 2025.
View your school's attendance. 🔍
👇
vist.ly/4dskc
#attendancematters #education
View your school's attendance. 🔍
👇
vist.ly/4dskc
#attendancematters #education