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Attainment 8 Maths

DfE Performance Tables

Last refreshed 30 January 2026 16:42
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Attainment 8 Maths

DfE Performance Tables

Attainment 8 score for the mathematics element

Understanding Attainment 8 Maths

This score represents the Mathematics component of the Attainment 8 measure. Like English, Maths is double-weighted, reflecting its fundamental importance to future education and career opportunities.

How It’s Calculated

The Maths GCSE grade is doubled in the Attainment 8 calculation, contributing up to 18 points to the total score (maximum grade 9 × 2).

Why Maths is Double-Weighted

Mathematical skills are essential for:

  • STEM subjects and careers
  • Problem-solving across disciplines
  • Financial literacy and everyday life
  • Access to many university courses and apprenticeships

Strong maths results open doors that weak results close.

Interpreting the Scores

For the Maths component:

  • 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 to Look For

When evaluating a school’s maths provision, consider:

  • Attainment 8 Maths score: The raw outcomes
  • Progress 8: Whether students make good progress regardless of starting point
  • Subject entry: Whether students take separate statistics or additional maths qualifications
  • Further maths uptake: For sixth forms, how many continue to A-level

A school with strong maths outcomes and good progress is effectively teaching this critical subject.

Technical Details

Column Name
attainment8_maths
Data Source
DfE Performance Tables

Coverage by School Phase

How many schools have data available for this field.

Primary
0% 0 / 17910
Secondary
93% 1176 / 1263
Secondary with Sixth Form
95% 1946 / 2033
Sixth Form Only
0% 0 / 289
All-through
59% 161 / 269
Special
29% 615 / 2059
Independent
45% 784 / 1724
Good (80%+)
Moderate (50-79%)
Poor (<50%)

This field does not contribute to the performance score calculation.

Distribution by School Phase

Statistical distribution of values across schools.

Min
0.0
Max
17.8
Mean
6.81
Median
6.14
Std Dev
2.44
Schools
4682
Secondary (1176)
6
162
495
440
72
1
0 2 4 5 7 9 11 12 14 16 18
Secondary with Sixth Form (1946)
1
3
13
103
598
763
284
86
70
25
0 2 4 5 7 9 11 12 14 16 18
All-through (161)
1
1
24
57
54
23
1
0 2 4 5 7 9 11 12 14 16 18
Special (615)
317
209
65
16
7
1
0 2 4 5 7 9 11 12 14 16 18
Independent (784)
382
31
26
17
52
98
103
52
18
5
0 2 4 5 7 9 11 12 14 16 18

Related Fields

Fields that correlate with Attainment 8 Maths. Click to explore.

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