Exams

EBacc target even further off as entries fall again

KS4 data also shows how disadvantage gap has widened according to government's own metric

KS4 data also shows how disadvantage gap has widened according to government's own metric

The proportion of pupils entering the EBacc suite of qualifications has decreased again this year, leaving the government even further from its target.

Key stage 4 performance data published today also shows how according to the government’s own metric, the disadvantage gap widened this year to its highest level since 2014-15.

According to the disadvantage gap index, the gap widened to 3.79 this year, up from 3.66 in 2020 and 3.7 in 2019. It was already known the gap had grown after GCSE results were published, but the DfE has only today published its own data.

Today’s data also shows 38.7 per cent of pupils nationally entered the full suite of EBacc qualifications – English, maths, science, history or geography and a language – in 2020-21.

This was down from 39.8 per cent in 2019-20 and 40 per cent in 2018-19.

However, the proportion of pupils entering four or more components has continued rising. This year 87.7 per cent of pupils entered four or more EBacc components, up from 87.3 per cent in 2020 and 86.5 per cent in 2019.

The fall in the overall entry rate appears to have been driven in part by a decrease in language entries.

Although entries to the science and humanities pillars increased this year, entries to languages continued to dwindle, with 45 per cent entering that component, down from 46.1 per cent the year before.

The government had initially wanted to see 90 per cent of pupils enter the EBacc by 2020, but this target was pushed back to 2025.

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the cancellation of exams, most performance data is not being included in league tables for 2020 or 2021.

But the Department for Education has published some data today to “maintain the continuity of information”.

The data shows the average attainment 8 score of all pupils increased to 50.9 this year, up from 50.2 in 2020 and 46.7 in 2019. It comes after GCSE results showed a big increase in the proportion of top grades following a move to teacher-assessed grades.

The average EBacc average point score per pupil also rose to 4.45, from 4.38 last year and 4.07 in 2019.

More from this theme

Exams

‘Change on an unprecedented scale’: Ofqual responds to ABS plans

Qualifications reform risks more exams, 'unregulated' A-levels and students unprepared for higher study, says exams regulator

Freddie Whittaker
Exams

Hacking homework for exam breach suspect

A 16-year-old boy has been cautioned in connection with an exam board cyber attack

Samantha Booth
Exams

Deprived schools more likely to see progress 8 scores fall

Analysis comes as Covid impact and potential Labour changes may spell end to measure in its current form

Freddie Whittaker
Exams

Progress 8 pause: Heads call for wider review

But some heads have warned the sector could creep back to GCSE pass grades being the accountability 'king'

Samantha Booth
Exams

No school progress measure for next two years

The Department for Education had explored alternative options, but concluded there is 'no replacement' for progress 8 measure

Samantha Booth
Exams

Unions: ‘Clunky’ advanced British standard risks ‘blunt choice’ for pupils

Ministers accused of 'putting the cart before the horse' with 16-19 reform plans

Freddie Whittaker

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *