“Fair banding” schools
In collaboration with TES magazine last year, we analysed the characteristics of pupils in schools which used banding tests in their admissions processes. Here we set out our full methodology and findings.
Are DfE right to ditch confidence intervals?
DfE are proposing a change to the way they calculate bandings that summarise schools' progress scores. We look at the pros and cons of doing so.
A-level completion rates
We calculate the proportion of A-level students who complete their chosen qualification, and explore how this varies by subject and prior attainment
When early promise meets socio-economic barriers: what the data say about initially high-achieving pupils from poor backgrounds
We explore how many disadvantaged children who shine in primary school go on to convert that promise into strong GCSEs, A-levels and selective university entry.
Pupil absence in Autumn Term 2025/26
A summary of patterns in pupil attendance across Autumn Term this year, including the impact of an unusually early flu season
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
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.
Why one word can break your research – and why AI won’t help. A cautionary tale from PISA
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.
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.