Loading published observations and source records.
School results and A-level course completion by ethnicity and sex in England
See how results differ between ethnic groups at the end of primary school, at GCSE level and at A level, and compare how many A-level students stayed to the end of their course and were assessed. You can also compare the results of female and male pupils within each ethnic group. The figures use the ethnicity and sex categories published by the Department for Education.
Key findings
In 2024/25, White pupils had the lowest average Attainment 8 score among the five major ethnic groups, at 44.8. Asian pupils had the highest, at 52.8, an 8.0-point difference. This is a major-group ranking: among the more detailed categories, Chinese was highest at 66.1 and Gypsy was lowest at 19.9.
In 2025/26, the year 6 expected-standard rate ranged from 57.9% for Other ethnic group pupils to 71.0% for Asian or Asian British pupils, a 13.2 percentage-point difference. The all-pupil result was 63.3%.
For grade 5 or above in English and maths in 2024/25, female results were higher in 5 of the five major ethnic groups; the difference ranged from +2.3 percentage points for Mixed or multiple ethnic groups pupils to +6.7 percentage points for Black / African / Caribbean / Black British pupils. For Attainment 8, disadvantaged pupils scored below other pupils in every major group; the largest gap was −18.2 points in the White group.
In 2024/25, the difference between the highest and lowest major-group A-level average was 3.4 points per entry. For retention, the major-group range was 3.7 percentage points; Asian or Asian British was highest at 95.3% and White was lowest at 91.6%.
Key findings for the White ethnic group
At GCSE level in 2024/25, White pupils ranked 5 of five major ethnic groups for Attainment 8, at 44.8. This was −1.2 points compared with all pupils. For grade 5 or above in English and maths, they ranked 4 of five, at 43.6%. This was −1.8 percentage points compared with all pupils. Only Black / African / Caribbean / Black British pupils had a lower grade 5 result.
The White group had the largest disadvantage shortfall of the five major ethnic groups in all three available 2024/25 comparisons: −18.2 points for Attainment 8, −31.4 percentage points for grade 5 English and maths, and −5.2 points for average A-level points per entry.
For A-level results in 2024/25, White students had the highest average A-level result among the five major ethnic groups, ranking 1 of five at 35.3 points per entry. That was −0.8 points compared with the overall result, which also includes students whose ethnicity was unknown or unclassified. For staying to the end of the course and being assessed, White students ranked 5 of five, at 91.6%. This was −0.8 percentage points compared with all students.
At the end of primary school in 2025/26, 61.9% of White pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. That ranked 4 of five major groups and was −1.4 percentage points compared with all pupils; only Other ethnic group pupils had a lower result.
Female results were higher than male results within the White group in every available comparison: by +5.9 percentage points at the end of primary school, +3.8 points for Attainment 8, +2.8 percentage points for grade 5 English and maths, and +1.4 points for average A-level points per entry.
KS2 expected standard by ethnicity: all pupils
About these filters
View
Results
Shows the result for each ethnic group. The line for all pupils or students shows the national result.
Difference from all pupils/students
Shows how far each ethnic group's result was above or below the national result for the same sex and year. Values above zero were higher; values below zero were lower.
Ethnicity detail
Major groups
Shows the five broad ethnic groups used by DfE, plus pupils or students whose ethnicity was not recorded. ‘Other ethnic group’ is DfE's category for people outside its Asian, Black, Mixed and White main groups; it is not a remainder created by this site, and this extract does not break it down further. The results view also shows the national overall result as a comparator; it is not a sixth ethnic group.
One detailed group
Shows one of DfE's more detailed ethnic groups alongside the national result. Choose a different group to change the comparison.
Sex
All pupils
Shows female and male pupils together. The difference view compares each ethnic group with the national result for all pupils.
Female
Shows female pupils. The difference view compares each ethnic group with the national result for female pupils.
Male
Shows male pupils. The difference view compares each ethnic group with the national result for male pupils.
Each line is the percentage of year 6 pupils in an ethnic group who met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. The difference view shows how far each group was above or below all pupils of the selected sex in that year.
culture-change.org.uk
All pupils (overall comparator)
Asian or Asian British
Black / African / Caribbean / Black British
Mixed or multiple ethnic groups
White
Other ethnic group
Unknown or unclassified
Writing assessment changed from 2017/18: The teacher-assessment framework changed, so results from 2015/16 and 2016/17 are not directly comparable with later years.
Assessments cancelled in 2019/20 and 2020/21: There are no results for these two school years; the dashed line is only a visual bridge between the nearest published results.
Attainment 8 by ethnicity: all pupils
About these filters
Measure
Attainment 8
Adds a pupil’s points from eight GCSE-level qualifications, including English and maths. The chart shows the average score per pupil; a higher score reflects higher grades across the included subjects.
Grade 5+ English and maths
Shows the percentage of pupils who achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths.
View
Results
Shows the result for each ethnic group. The line for all pupils or students shows the national result.
Difference from all pupils/students
Shows how far each ethnic group's result was above or below the national result for the same sex and year. Values above zero were higher; values below zero were lower.
Ethnicity detail
Major groups
Shows the five broad ethnic groups used by DfE, plus pupils or students whose ethnicity was not recorded. ‘Other ethnic group’ is DfE's category for people outside its Asian, Black, Mixed and White main groups; it is not a remainder created by this site, and this extract does not break it down further. The results view also shows the national overall result as a comparator; it is not a sixth ethnic group.
One detailed group
Shows one of DfE's more detailed ethnic groups alongside the national result. Choose a different group to change the comparison.
Sex
All pupils
Shows female and male pupils together. The difference view compares each ethnic group with the national result for all pupils.
Female
Shows female pupils. The difference view compares each ethnic group with the national result for female pupils.
Male
Shows male pupils. The difference view compares each ethnic group with the national result for male pupils.
Attainment 8 adds a pupil’s points from eight GCSE-level qualifications, including English and maths; this chart shows the average score per pupil. You can instead show the percentage gaining grade 5 or above in both English and maths. The difference view shows how far each ethnic group was above or below all pupils of the selected sex in that year.
culture-change.org.uk
All pupils (overall comparator)
Asian or Asian British
Black / African / Caribbean / Black British
Mixed or multiple ethnic groups
White
Other ethnic group
Unknown or unclassified
Grading changed from 2019/20 to 2021/22: Exams were replaced by grades assessed by schools in 2019/20 and teachers in 2020/21. Grading moved back towards the usual system in 2021/22, with normal exam grading broadly restored in 2022/23. These years are not a like-for-like trend.
Difference between female and male results within ethnic groups: Grade 5+ English and maths, 2024/25
About these filters
Stage and measure
Year 6 expected standard
Compares the percentages of female and male pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. A positive value means the female result was higher.
GCSE Attainment 8
Compares the average Attainment 8 scores of female and male pupils. A positive value means the female result was higher.
GCSE grade 5+ English and maths
Compares the percentages of female and male pupils achieving grade 5 or above in both English and maths. A positive value means the female result was higher.
Average A-level result
Compares female and male students' average points per A-level entry. A positive value means the female result was higher.
Each bar subtracts the male result from the female result within one of the five major ethnic groups. A bar above zero means the female result was higher; a bar below zero means the male result was higher.
culture-change.org.uk
Average A-level result by ethnicity
About these filters
View
Results
Shows the result for each ethnic group. The line for all pupils or students shows the national result.
Difference from all pupils/students
Shows how far each ethnic group's result was above or below the national result for the same sex and year. Values above zero were higher; values below zero were lower.
Ethnicity detail
Major groups
Shows the five broad ethnic groups used by DfE, plus pupils or students whose ethnicity was not recorded. ‘Other ethnic group’ is DfE's category for people outside its Asian, Black, Mixed and White main groups; it is not a remainder created by this site, and this extract does not break it down further. The results view also shows the national overall result as a comparator; it is not a sixth ethnic group.
One detailed group
Shows one of DfE's more detailed ethnic groups alongside the national result. Choose a different group to change the comparison.
Each line is the average points per A-level entry for an ethnic group. One point is one tenth of a grade, so a 10-point difference is roughly one grade per entry.
culture-change.org.uk
All students (overall comparator)
Asian or Asian British
Black / African / Caribbean / Black British
Mixed or multiple ethnic groups
White
Other ethnic group
Unknown or unclassified
A-level cohort and coverage changed from 2020/21: DfE changed how it identified students at the end of study, and the ethnicity data expanded from state-funded students to all schools and further-education colleges.
A-level grading changed from 2019/20 to 2021/22: A-level exams were replaced by grades assessed by schools in 2019/20 and teachers in 2020/21, followed by transitional grading in 2021/22. Normal exam grading was broadly restored in 2022/23.
A-level students staying to the end of their course, by ethnicity
About these filters
View
Results
Shows the result for each ethnic group. The line for all pupils or students shows the national result.
Difference from all pupils/students
Shows how far each ethnic group's result was above or below the national result for the same sex and year. Values above zero were higher; values below zero were lower.
Ethnicity detail
Major groups
Shows the five broad ethnic groups used by DfE, plus pupils or students whose ethnicity was not recorded. ‘Other ethnic group’ is DfE's category for people outside its Asian, Black, Mixed and White main groups; it is not a remainder created by this site, and this extract does not break it down further. The results view also shows the national overall result as a comparator; it is not a sixth ethnic group.
One detailed group
Shows one of DfE's more detailed ethnic groups alongside the national result. Choose a different group to change the comparison.
Each line is the percentage of an ethnic group who stayed to the end of their main A-level programme and were assessed. This measures programme completion, not the grades achieved.
culture-change.org.uk
All students (overall comparator)
Asian or Asian British
Black / African / Caribbean / Black British
Mixed or multiple ethnic groups
White
Other ethnic group
Unknown or unclassified
A-level retention cohort changed from 2020/21: DfE changed how it identified students at the end of study, so values on either side are not directly comparable.
Difference by disadvantage status within ethnic groups: Attainment 8, 2024/25
About these filters
Stage and measure
GCSE Attainment 8
Compares disadvantaged pupils' average Attainment 8 score with the score for pupils not classed as disadvantaged. A negative value means the disadvantaged result was lower.
GCSE grade 5+ English and maths
Compares the percentages achieving grade 5 or above in English and maths. A negative value means the disadvantaged result was lower.
Average A-level result
Compares disadvantaged students' average points per A-level entry with the result for students not classed as disadvantaged. A negative value means the disadvantaged result was lower.
Each bar subtracts the result for pupils not classed as disadvantaged from the result for disadvantaged pupils in the same major ethnic group. A bar below zero means the disadvantaged result was lower.
culture-change.org.uk
The data and measures
Department for Education statistics cover year 6 and GCSE-level pupils in state-funded schools in England, plus students in the published A-level results and course-completion groups. The year 6 measure is the percentage meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. At GCSE level, Attainment 8 adds a pupil's points from eight GCSE-level qualifications, including English and maths; the chart reports the average score per pupil. The other measure is the percentage gaining grade 5 or above in both English and maths.
The charts use the female and male categories published by DfE. For year 6 and GCSE results, you can compare an ethnic group with all pupils of the same sex and year. The A-level female–male comparison is available for the five major ethnic groups in 2024/25; the course-completion data used here has no equivalent comparison.
The overall result includes pupils or students whose ethnicity was not recorded. The A-level results before 2020/21 cover state-funded students; later results cover all schools and further-education colleges. The chart marks this change together with DfE's changed rule for deciding when a student reached the end of study.
Sources and limitations
The page uses seven Department for Education releases covering year 6, GCSE and A-level results and whether A-level students stayed to the end of their course and were assessed. The source links beneath each chart identify the exact releases used. DfE KS2 pupil characteristics 2025/26 provisional.
Year 6 writing assessment changed from 2017/18, and assessments were cancelled in 2019/20 and 2020/21. GCSE and A-level grading changed during the pandemic, so results across the affected years are not like-for-like. The A-level student group and end-of-study rule also changed from 2020/21.
A-level groups do not include every 16- to 18-year-old. The course-completion measure records whether students completed their main programme and were assessed, not the grades they achieved. Broad national ethnicity groups can also conceal large differences between detailed ethnic categories.