Attainment 8
Average grade across 8 GCSE subjects including English and Maths, scored out of 90.
Attainment 8 is the average grade a pupil achieves across 8 GCSE subjects, scored out of 90.
The 8 subjects are: English (counted twice if both Language and Literature are taken), Maths (counted twice), three EBacc subjects, and three further GCSEs or approved equivalents.
Attainment 8 measures outcomes - how well pupils did - not the school’s contribution to that outcome. A school with a selective intake will tend to score high; a school in a deprived area may score low even if it adds enormous value.
Typical figures:
- National state-school average: around 45 - 47
- Strong comprehensive: 55 - 65
- Selective grammar: 70+
To strip out the effect of intake, look at Progress 8 alongside Attainment 8. Together they answer "how strong are the results?" and "how much did the school add?" - two different questions.
Related guides
More terms starting with A
Academy
A state-funded school run independently of the local authority, often as part of a Multi-Academy Trust.
Admissions Authority
The body responsible for setting and applying a school admissions policy (the local authority for community schools, the school itself for academies and faith schools).
Appeals
The legal process through which parents can challenge a refused school place at an independent appeals panel.