2025 Performance Tables Published
The Department for Education has released the 2025 school performance tables, providing comprehensive data on GCSE and A-Level results from summer 2025. These tables offer valuable insights for parents researching schools for 2026 entry and beyond.
National GCSE Performance
The 2025 GCSE results show continued post-pandemic recovery, with most measures returning to or exceeding pre-2020 levels.
Key Statistics:
- Progress 8 - National average: 0.02 (improved from -0.03 in 2024)
- Attainment 8 - National average: 46.8 (up from 46.2 in 2024)
- EBacc Entry - 41% of students entered the full EBacc suite (English, maths, sciences, humanities, languages)
- Grade 5+ in English & Maths - 47% of students (up 2 percentage points)
Top Performing State Schools (GCSE)
Grammar and selective schools continue to dominate the top positions, though several comprehensive schools showed exceptional Progress 8 scores:
- Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet - Attainment 8: 75.2
- Pate's Grammar School, Cheltenham - Attainment 8: 74.8
- Altrincham Grammar School for Girls - Attainment 8: 74.5
- The Latymer School, Edmonton - Attainment 8: 73.9
- Heckmondwike Grammar School - Attainment 8: 73.2
Note: These are selective schools. Progress 8 scores better indicate how well comprehensive schools add value to all pupils.
A-Level Performance 2025
A-Level results showed resilience following the return to pre-pandemic grading standards.
National Statistics:
- A*-A grades - 27.2% (stable from 2024)
- A*-B grades - 54.1%
- Pass rate (A*-E) - 97.6%
Top State School Sixth Forms (A-Level):
- Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet
- Wilson's School, Sutton
- St Olave's Grammar School, Orpington
- Reading School
- Colchester Royal Grammar School
Regional Variations
The 2025 data shows continued regional disparities:
London - Maintains strong performance, particularly for disadvantaged pupils. London schools continue to show that deprivation need not determine destiny, with many inner-city schools achieving exceptional Progress 8 scores.
Southeast - High attainment scores but mixed progress measures. The prevalence of selective schools and high house prices create complex patterns.
North and Midlands - Improving trends with standout performers. Government levelling-up initiatives show early signs of impact.
Coastal and Rural Areas - Continue to face challenges with recruitment and resources, though some schools buck the trend with innovative approaches.
Subject Trends
STEM Subjects on the Rise
Entries for STEM subjects continue to grow:
- Combined sciences up 3% year-on-year
- Computer science entries increased 8%
- Physics A-Level up 5% (particularly among girls)
Modern Foreign Languages
Language entries remain a concern. Only 47% of students studied a language to GCSE (down from 50% in 2020). The government's EBacc targets look increasingly unlikely to be met.
Creative Subjects
Entries for art, music, and drama GCSEs decreased by 4%, continuing a decade-long trend that concerns many educators.
Understanding the Metrics
Progress 8
This is the most important metric for comprehensive schools. It measures progress from Key Stage 2 (Year 6) to Key Stage 4 (Year 11):
- 0 = Pupils made expected progress
- +1 = Pupils made one grade more progress than average
- -1 = Pupils made one grade less progress than average
A school serving a deprived community with a Progress 8 of +0.5 is likely doing a better job than a school in an affluent area with a Progress 8 of -0.2, despite potentially lower attainment scores.
Attainment 8
The average grade across eight qualifications (English, maths, three EBacc subjects, three others). Scores range from 0-80, with the national average around 46-47.
Context Is Everything
When reviewing performance tables, remember:
- Deprivation - Schools serving disadvantaged communities face greater challenges
- SEND Provision - Schools with more SEND pupils may have lower attainment but excellent Progress 8 scores
- Cohort Size - Small schools can have volatile results year-to-year
- Recent Changes - New headteachers or academy conversions take time to impact results
- Curriculum Choices - Some schools offer broader curriculums that may not maximize Attainment 8 scores
Using Performance Data Wisely
League tables are just one tool in your research. UK School Explorer combines performance data with:
- Ofsted report cards (new 6-area assessments from November 2025)
- School demographics and context
- Historical trends over multiple years
- Distance and catchment information
- Sixth form and destination data
This comprehensive view helps you understand not just what results a school achieved, but why - and whether it's the right environment for your child.
Explore detailed 2025 performance data for any school in England using UK School Explorer. Compare schools, analyze trends, and make informed decisions.