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
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
Reposted by FFT Education Datalab
Great article from Peter Urwin on the challenges of getting NEET young people into education/training/work pathways that make sense.
England’s plans to get more young people working or studying don’t go far enough – employment expert
theconversation.com/englands-pla...
England’s plans to get more young people working or studying don’t go far enough – employment expert
theconversation.com/englands-pla...
England’s plans to get more young people working or studying don’t go far enough – employment expert
Too many young people in England reach age 16 with poor qualifications.
theconversation.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Great article from Peter Urwin on the challenges of getting NEET young people into education/training/work pathways that make sense.
England’s plans to get more young people working or studying don’t go far enough – employment expert
theconversation.com/englands-pla...
England’s plans to get more young people working or studying don’t go far enough – employment expert
theconversation.com/englands-pla...
The number of 16 to 24-year-olds in England who are not in education, employment or training (Neet) currently stands at nearly one million.
The government set out a range of initiatives to help them in their recent white paper. But do they go far enough?
theconversation.com/englands-pla...
The government set out a range of initiatives to help them in their recent white paper. But do they go far enough?
theconversation.com/englands-pla...
England’s plans to get more young people working or studying don’t go far enough – employment expert
Too many young people in England reach age 16 with poor qualifications.
theconversation.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:24 AM
The number of 16 to 24-year-olds in England who are not in education, employment or training (Neet) currently stands at nearly one million.
The government set out a range of initiatives to help them in their recent white paper. But do they go far enough?
theconversation.com/englands-pla...
The government set out a range of initiatives to help them in their recent white paper. But do they go far enough?
theconversation.com/englands-pla...
Reposted by FFT Education Datalab
NEW REPORT: Modelling and reforming school choice
By Ellen Greaves, @estellecantillon.bsky.social, @mariagraziacavallo.bsky.social and me.
Blog economics.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/2025/11/06/a...
Policy briefing
www.bristol.ac.uk/media-librar...
#EconSky #EduSky
1/9
By Ellen Greaves, @estellecantillon.bsky.social, @mariagraziacavallo.bsky.social and me.
Blog economics.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/2025/11/06/a...
Policy briefing
www.bristol.ac.uk/media-librar...
#EconSky #EduSky
1/9
Access to highly effective schools: The case for reform – Welcome to the Economics blog
How do we address the gap in attainment between the most advantaged and disadvantaged students in the UK? Pioneering research, led by the University of Bristol, reveals the reforms most likely to equa...
economics.blogs.bristol.ac.uk
November 6, 2025 at 8:01 AM
NEW REPORT: Modelling and reforming school choice
By Ellen Greaves, @estellecantillon.bsky.social, @mariagraziacavallo.bsky.social and me.
Blog economics.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/2025/11/06/a...
Policy briefing
www.bristol.ac.uk/media-librar...
#EconSky #EduSky
1/9
By Ellen Greaves, @estellecantillon.bsky.social, @mariagraziacavallo.bsky.social and me.
Blog economics.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/2025/11/06/a...
Policy briefing
www.bristol.ac.uk/media-librar...
#EconSky #EduSky
1/9
Reposted by FFT Education Datalab
🧵 The curriculum and assessment review has been published – here, @cerysturner.bsky.social rounds up the main recommendations, including scrapping the EBacc and making triple science accessible to all at GCSE (1/3)
Curriculum and assessment review: 14 key points
The Francis review’s final recommendations include scrapping the EBacc, reducing exam time and making triple science available to all at GCSE
www.tes.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:36 PM
🧵 The curriculum and assessment review has been published – here, @cerysturner.bsky.social rounds up the main recommendations, including scrapping the EBacc and making triple science accessible to all at GCSE (1/3)
Reposted by FFT Education Datalab
Breaking: The government is proposing sweeping reforms to progress 8, the main league table measure for secondary schools, in a bid to boost arts take-up – and will ditch the EBacc from this academic year
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-ignores-francis-review-and-proposes-sweeping-progress-8-reform/
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-ignores-francis-review-and-proposes-sweeping-progress-8-reform/
November 5, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Breaking: The government is proposing sweeping reforms to progress 8, the main league table measure for secondary schools, in a bid to boost arts take-up – and will ditch the EBacc from this academic year
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-ignores-francis-review-and-proposes-sweeping-progress-8-reform/
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-ignores-francis-review-and-proposes-sweeping-progress-8-reform/
Reposted by FFT Education Datalab
The government will introduce a new national curriculum from 2028, scrap the EBacc league table measure, make citizenship compulsory in primary schools and force all secondaries to offer triple science GCSE
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/new-curriculum-to-be-introduced-in-2028-as-review-published/
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/new-curriculum-to-be-introduced-in-2028-as-review-published/
November 5, 2025 at 7:10 AM
The government will introduce a new national curriculum from 2028, scrap the EBacc league table measure, make citizenship compulsory in primary schools and force all secondaries to offer triple science GCSE
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/new-curriculum-to-be-introduced-in-2028-as-review-published/
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/new-curriculum-to-be-introduced-in-2028-as-review-published/
NEW: What will it take to meet the government’s ambition for 90% of pupils to achieve the expected standard in Year 1 phonics?
80% of pupils currently achieve the phonics standard by the end of Year 1. We look at how challenging it will be to reach 90%.
vist.ly/4csjb
80% of pupils currently achieve the phonics standard by the end of Year 1. We look at how challenging it will be to reach 90%.
vist.ly/4csjb
What will it take to meet the government’s ambition for 90% of pupils to achieve the expected standard in Year 1 phonics? - FFT Education Datalab
80% of pupils currently achieve the phonics standard by the end of Year 1. We look at how challenging it will be to reach 90%.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
November 4, 2025 at 10:24 AM
NEW: What will it take to meet the government’s ambition for 90% of pupils to achieve the expected standard in Year 1 phonics?
80% of pupils currently achieve the phonics standard by the end of Year 1. We look at how challenging it will be to reach 90%.
vist.ly/4csjb
80% of pupils currently achieve the phonics standard by the end of Year 1. We look at how challenging it will be to reach 90%.
vist.ly/4csjb
Want to stay up-to-date with the latest research from Datalab? Sign up to our mailing list here.
vist.ly/4bv2g
vist.ly/4bv2g
Want to stay up-to-date with the latest research from Datalab? Sign up to our mailing list here.
vist.ly/4bv2g
Want to stay up-to-date with the latest research from Datalab? Sign up to our mailing list here.
vist.ly/4bv2g
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
October 27, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Want to stay up-to-date with the latest research from Datalab? Sign up to our mailing list here.
vist.ly/4bv2g
vist.ly/4bv2g
NEW: Has gender balance in A-Level physics improved?
This summer, 24% of those entering A-Level physics exams were female. Physics still has the second lowest percentage of female entrants of all A-Levels. - but that's the highest percentage for at least the last twenty years.
vist.ly/4bft7
This summer, 24% of those entering A-Level physics exams were female. Physics still has the second lowest percentage of female entrants of all A-Levels. - but that's the highest percentage for at least the last twenty years.
vist.ly/4bft7
Has gender balance in A-Level physics improved? - FFT Education Datalab
We look at whether A-Level physics is becoming more popular with female students.
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
October 23, 2025 at 9:14 AM
NEW: Has gender balance in A-Level physics improved?
This summer, 24% of those entering A-Level physics exams were female. Physics still has the second lowest percentage of female entrants of all A-Levels. - but that's the highest percentage for at least the last twenty years.
vist.ly/4bft7
This summer, 24% of those entering A-Level physics exams were female. Physics still has the second lowest percentage of female entrants of all A-Levels. - but that's the highest percentage for at least the last twenty years.
vist.ly/4bft7
Reposted by FFT Education Datalab
One platform. One experience. For one consistent approach.
#AspirePupilTracking for Secondary Schools makes it easy for teachers to get the insights they need — fast.
Hear what schools have to say:
🔗 vist.ly/4baj8
#AspirePupilTracking for Secondary Schools makes it easy for teachers to get the insights they need — fast.
Hear what schools have to say:
🔗 vist.ly/4baj8
October 22, 2025 at 6:57 AM
One platform. One experience. For one consistent approach.
#AspirePupilTracking for Secondary Schools makes it easy for teachers to get the insights they need — fast.
Hear what schools have to say:
🔗 vist.ly/4baj8
#AspirePupilTracking for Secondary Schools makes it easy for teachers to get the insights they need — fast.
Hear what schools have to say:
🔗 vist.ly/4baj8
Reposted by FFT Education Datalab
Read the full story on the White Paper delay here ⬇️
October 22, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Read the full story on the White Paper delay here ⬇️
NEW POST: Making sense of school performance data in 2025
This year's published secondary school performance data shows why Progress 8 (or something like it) is needed, despite its flaws.
vist.ly/4amsj
This year's published secondary school performance data shows why Progress 8 (or something like it) is needed, despite its flaws.
vist.ly/4amsj
Making sense of school performance data in 2025 - FFT Education Datalab
This year's published secondary school performance data shows why Progress 8 (or something like it) is needed, despite its flaws
ffteducationdatalab.org.uk
October 16, 2025 at 1:23 PM
NEW POST: Making sense of school performance data in 2025
This year's published secondary school performance data shows why Progress 8 (or something like it) is needed, despite its flaws.
vist.ly/4amsj
This year's published secondary school performance data shows why Progress 8 (or something like it) is needed, despite its flaws.
vist.ly/4amsj