Attainment 8 English
DfE Performance Tables
Attainment 8 score for the English element
Understanding Attainment 8 English
This score represents the English component of the Attainment 8 measure. English is double-weighted in Attainment 8, reflecting its fundamental importance — it counts twice in the overall calculation.
How It’s Calculated
The English element uses the better result from:
- English Language GCSE
- English Literature GCSE
The higher grade is doubled, contributing up to 18 points to the total Attainment 8 score (maximum grade 9 × 2).
Why English is Double-Weighted
English skills are essential for:
- Success in virtually every other subject
- Further education applications
- Employment and career progression
- Everyday communication and life skills
The double weighting ensures schools prioritise this crucial subject.
Interpreting the Scores
For the English component specifically:
- 12+ points: Strong (equivalent to grade 6+ average)
- 10-12 points: Good (grade 5-6)
- 8-10 points: Average (grade 4-5)
- Below 8 points: Below average
What It Tells You
High Attainment 8 English scores indicate:
- Strong literacy teaching throughout the school
- Good outcomes in both Language and Literature
- Students well-prepared for further study
Consider this alongside overall Progress 8 to understand whether high English scores reflect effective teaching or advantaged intake.
Technical Details
- Column Name
- attainment8_english
- Data Source
- DfE Performance Tables
Coverage by School Phase
How many schools have data available for this field.
This field does not contribute to the performance score calculation.
Distribution by School Phase
Statistical distribution of values across schools.
Related Fields
Fields that correlate with Attainment 8 English. Click to explore.