KS4 Basics

Understanding the Basics Measure

The Basics measure shows the percentage of students achieving a grade 4 or above (a “standard pass”) in both English and Mathematics GCSEs. This is one of the most important secondary school metrics because these two subjects are fundamental to further education and employment opportunities.

Why Basics Matters

English and Maths GCSEs at grade 4 or above are often minimum requirements for:

• College and sixth form courses
• Apprenticeships
• Many entry-level jobs
• Further study in any subject

Students who don’t achieve these grades are required to continue studying English and Maths until they do, making this a critical threshold in a young person’s education.

Standard Pass vs Strong Pass

The Department for Education reports two versions of this measure:

• Basics 4+ (Standard Pass): Grade 4 or above in both subjects — the minimum considered acceptable
• Basics 5+ (Strong Pass): Grade 5 or above in both subjects — a more demanding threshold

Grade 5 is considered a “strong pass” and is the level expected by many sixth forms and employers. Schools with high percentages at grade 5+ are preparing students particularly well for the next stage.

Interpreting the Numbers

• 70%+ achieving Basics 4+: Strong performance
• 60-70%: Around the national average
• Below 50%: Indicates significant challenges

When comparing schools, consider this alongside Progress 8 to understand whether high or low Basics results reflect the school’s effectiveness or simply the prior attainment of its intake.