Assessment Code usage in the Statutory Assessments report
Updated
The Statutory Assessments report seeks to match DfE methodology regarding assessment codes and how they apply to aggregate calculations in the report.
This guide details how the codes are used in each section.
Key Stage 2
Reading, Mathematics and GPS (Tests)
% Achieving the expected and higher standard
This statistic uses the eligible pupil cohort as the denominator, in line with the DfE's accountability methodology.
Pupils with assessment codes remain part of the eligible cohort where specified by the DfE and are therefore included in the denominator, but not the numerator.
For example, the DfE Primary School Accountability page states:
"There are some circumstances where a pupil's results are included in the attainment measure as 'not meeting' the expected standard. These pupils will contribute to the cohort in the denominator but are not included in the numerator."
Average scaled score
Average scaled scores are calculated only from pupils with a valid scaled score.
Pupils without a scaled score are excluded from this calculation.
For example, the DfE Primary School Accountability page states:
"The average scaled score in English reading and maths is the mean scaled score of all pupils awarded a scaled score. It only includes pupils who took the test and achieved a scaled score."
KS2 Summary (tests)
KS2 Code | Expected / Higher Standard | Average Scaled Score |
A – Absent | Included as Not Achieved | Excluded |
B – Working below the standard of the test | Included as Not Achieved | Excluded |
H – Pupil cheating | Included as Not Achieved | Excluded |
J – Just arrived in the school | Included as Not Achieved | Excluded |
L – Left | Excluded | Excluded |
M - Missing | Excluded | Excluded |
Q – Maladministration | Included as Not Achieved | Excluded |
U – Unable to access the test | Included as Not Achieved | Excluded |
For the J code (just arrived) schools may request that a pupil be omitted from performance measures via the primary schools checking exercise in September. See this help guide for details of what to do if an application is successful.
Writing and Science (Teacher Assessment)
% Achieving the expected standard
Calculated using the eligible pupil cohort in accordance with the DfE's accountability methodology.
Writing only – % Working at greater depth
Writing is teacher assessed, so the DfE publishes the percentage of pupils assessed as working at greater depth rather than a higher scaled score.
Summary (teacher assessments)
KS2 TA Code | Expected Standard / Greater Depth |
A – Absent / recently arrived / insufficient evidence | Included as Not Achieved |
L – Left school | Not included in measures |
F – Pupil will complete the key stage in a future year | Not included in measures |
P – Assessment submitted in a previous year | Not included in measures |
MTC
% Scoring full marks (25/25)
This statistic uses the number of eligible pupils as the denominator, in line with the DfE's published national statistics. For example, the DfE national statistics page states:
"Proportions in the chart and table below are calculated out of all eligible pupils, including those who did not take the check"
Example
If a school has 54 eligible pupils, including one pupil coded A and one coded J, and 46 pupils score 25/25, the reported percentage is:
46 ÷ 54 = 85.2%
This matches the DfE methodology, which calculates the percentage of eligible pupils achieving full marks.
Average score (out of 25)
This statistic is calculated only from pupils with a valid numeric score. For example, the DfE national statistics page states:
"Pupils that did not complete the check are not included in average attainment scores."
Example
If 52 pupils have valid scores and their average score is 24.7, the pupils with assessment codes are not included when calculating the average.
MTC Summary
MTC Code | % Scoring Full Marks (25/25) | Average Score |
A – Absent | Included as Not Achieved | Excluded |
B – Working below expectation | Included as Not Achieved | Excluded |
J – Just arrived | Included as Not Achieved | Excluded |
L – Left school | Excluded | Excluded |
Q – Maladministration | Included as Not Achieved | Excluded |
U – Unable to access the check | Included as Not Achieved | Excluded |
X – Check not taken / no reason | Included as Not Achieved | Excluded |
Key Stage 1 Optional Teacher Assessments
The Key Stage One Teacher assessments are now optional, so no longer have any defined rules. The Statutory Assessments report uses the rules as they were when the TAs were still statutory.
Any entered A (Absent) codes will be excluded from the measures.
Phonics
The Statutory Assessments report follows the DfE methodology when calculating Phonics Screening Check statistics.
% Passing in Year 1 and Year 2
This statistic uses the number of eligible pupils as the denominator, in line with the DfE's published national statistics.
The DfE methodology states:
"Pupils with 'D' are included as we want to measure the percentage of all 6 year olds meeting the standard rather than of only those who took the check."
"Those who are absent are also included in calculations to encourage schools to ensure that all eligible pupils take the check where possible."
Phonics Summary
Phonics Code | % Pass |
A – Absent | Included as Not Achieved |
D – Did not take the check (Disapplied) | Included as Not Achieved |
L – Left school | Not included in measures |
Q – Maladministration | Included as Not Achieved |
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
The Statutory Assessments report follows the DfE methodology when calculating Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP) statistics.
% Achieving a Good Level of Development (GLD), % At Expected and Average ELGs at Expected
The DfE methodology states (under Data Quality):
"The following records are excluded from the statistics: Children with an ‘A’ (exemption) recorded against any area or goal in their EYFS profile"
Early Years Summary
EYFS Code | GLD / Expected across all ELGs / Average ELGs |
A – Unable to Assess or Exemption | Not included in measures |
