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Key Stage 4 education

Achievements of North East pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 (KS4), including GCSE results. Information about the subsequent destinations of previous pupils in this age group.

Education and skills
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About the data

KS4 headline measures

DfE school performance tables report on four Key Stage 4 (KS4) headline measures, with a statistical release summarising the information at national, regional and local authority area level. Pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 are usually in Year 11, during which they reach the age of 16. The four measures are:

  • The percentage of pupils attaining grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSEs.
    Reaching this level of achievement in either English literature or language is required, but there is no need to sit both.
  • The percentage of pupils entering the full English Baccalaureate (EBacc).
    These pupils enter GCSEs (or AS level qualifications) in five core academic subjects ("pillars") at KS4: English, maths, science, a language, and history or geography.
  • The EBacc Average Point Score (APS) per pupil.
    This measures pupils’ point scores across the five pillars of the EBacc, with a zero for any missing pillars.
  • The average Attainment 8 score per pupil.
    This measures achievement in up to eight KS4 qualifications, including the five EBacc pillars. The highest possible score is 90 (English and maths have additional weighting).

Comparisons over time

Changes seen in the headline attainment statistics for some recent years are likely to reflect Covid-related changes in grading approach and in the methodology for calculating the measures rather than demonstrating changes in standards. In particular:

  • GCSE exams for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 academic years were cancelled.
  • They were replaced with centre assessed grades (CAGs) and teacher assessed grades (TAGs).
  • There were changes to the 2022 methodology, with an approach to grading exams that broadly reflected a midpoint between results in 2019 and 2021.
  • There was a return to pre-pandemic conditions from 2023 onwards.

Destination measures

This annual statistical release provides information on the percentage of KS4 leavers continuing in sustained education, apprenticeships or employment. A sustained destination means at least six months recorded activity in the year following the end of KS4.

Geographies

In both the performance and the destination datasets, pupils and former pupils are allocated to the area within which their school is located. This is sometimes different from their area of residence.

Latest performance data

In the 2024/25 academic year, among KS4 pupils in state-funded schools in the North East MSA area:

42.9%

of pupils achieved grades 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs

England: 45.4%.
NE LA area with highest rate:
Gateshead: 49.9%.
NE disadvantaged pupils: 23.7%.

36.6%

of pupils entered the EBacc

England: 40.5%.
NE LA area with highest rate:
Gateshead: 49.2%
NE disadvantaged pupils: 24.1%.

3.87

EBacc average point score (APS) per pupil

England: 4.09.
NE LA area with highest average:
Gateshead: 4.23
NE disadvantaged pupils: 2.85.

44.3

average Attainment 8 score

England: 46.0.
NE LA area with highest average:
Gateshead: 47.0
NE disadvantaged pupils: 33.6.

Recent performance trends

Among North East KS4 pupils, comparing 2024/25 data with the pre-Covid (2018/19) equivalent:

+3.6 pp

change in % of pupils attaining grades 5 in English and maths

(percentage point change)
England +2.2 pp.
In latest year:
NE +1.0 pp; Eng. -0.5 pp.

+2.1 pp

change in % of pupils entering the EBacc

(percentage point change)
England +0.5 pp.
In latest year:
NE -0.7 pp; Eng. +0.1 pp.

+0.06

change in EBacc average point score (APS) per pupil

England +0.02.
In latest year:
NE +0.01; Eng. +0.02.

-0.5

change in average Attainment 8 score

England -0.7.
In latest year:
NE +0.3; Eng. +0.1.

Destinations of KS4 leavers

Information about North East residents one year after they have completed Key Stage 4.

89.2%

were in sustained education, employment or apprenticeships in 2023/24

North East KS4 leavers 2022/23.
England: 91.6%.
NE disadvantaged: 79.6%
North Tyneside: 91.5% (NE highest).

80.6%

were in sustained education in 2023/24

North East KS4 leavers 2022/23.
44% in further education (Eng. 37%),
35% in school sixth form (Eng. 35%),
1% in sixth form college (Eng. 13%).

5.6%

were in a sustained apprenticeship in 2023/24

North East KS4 leavers 2022/23.
3.1% in sustained employment.
England rates were lower:
3.3% and 2.5%, respectively.

-0.8 pp

one year decrease in the North East percentage in a sustained destination

Percentage point change,
2021/22 v 2022/23 KS4 leavers.
England: -0.6 pp.
NE five year change: -2.1 pp.

Further analysis

Education and skills theme page

The evidence hub's education and skills landing page. With links to data reports about education at all levels and adult skills.

Find more skills and education reports

Key stage 4 performance (source)

DfE release page with headline facts and figures about KS4 performance; detailed breakdowns; and information about the source and methodology.

DfE Key stage 4 performance release

Key stage 4 destination measures (source)

DfE release page with headline facts and figures about KS4 destinations; detailed breakdowns; and information about the source and methodology.

DfE Key Stage 4 destination measures release