Wales
Educational attainment at age 11
Key points
- In schools with at least a third of their pupils entitled to free school meals, the average proportion of children assessed as failing to reach level four at Key Stage 2 in English fell from 46% in 1997 to 33% in 2007. This compares with a fall over the same period for the average school from 32% to 18%.
- The figures for Maths are similar. In schools with at least a third of their pupils entitled to free school meals, the average proportion of children assessed as failing to reach level four at Key Stage 2 fell from 45% in 1997 to 30% in 2007. This compares with a fall over the same period for the average school from 31% to 17%.
- So, results have been improving, both for deprived schools and for schools on average but the gap between them remains large.
- The proportion of 11-year-olds assessed as failing to achieve level 4 or above at Key Stage 2 is highest in in Blaenau Gwent.
Graph 1: Over time
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Graph 2: By LA
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Map
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Definitions and data sources
The first graph compares the proportion of children assessed by their teachers as failing to reach level 4 at key stage 2 (11 year-olds) in schools which have at least a third of their pupils eligible for free school meals with that for all maintained mainstream schools. The graph shows English and Maths separately.
Note that teacher assessments, rather than actual tests, are shown as the tests now no longer take place. Also note that the figures shown are the school-level medians rather than the pupil-level means. Finally, Welsh as a subject is not included as it is only taught in a small number of schools and thus the statistics jump around a lot from year to year.
The data source for the first graph is benchmarking information from the Local Government Data Unit.
The second graph and map show how the proportions of children assessed as failing to reach level 4 at key stage 2 above varies by local authority, with the data shown being the average for English and Maths. To improve its statistical reliability, the data is the average for the latest three years.
The data source for the second graph and map is the Welsh Assembly's publications entitled National curriculum assessments of 7, 11 and 14 year olds. The data covers all LEA maintained schools.
Overall adequacy of the indicator: medium. While the data itself is sound enough, the choice of the particular level of exam success is a matter of judgement.