Why Progress 8 Matters More Than Raw Results
When you look at a school's exam results, it's tempting to assume that schools with the highest grades are the best schools. But this can be misleading.
A school in an affluent area might have excellent GCSE results simply because students arrive with advantages — private tutoring, stable home lives, educated parents. Meanwhile, a school in a disadvantaged area might have lower grades but be doing an exceptional jobhelping students reach their potential.
Progress 8 solves this problem by measuring improvement, not just final grades. It compares each student's GCSE results to those of other students across England who had similar Key Stage 2 (SATs) results at age 11.
How the Score Works
Progress 8 is centred on zero, making it easy to understand at a glance:
- Score of 0 — Students made exactly average progress compared to similar students nationally
- Positive score (e.g. +0.5) — Students made better than expected progress. A +0.5 means roughly half a grade higher across all subjects
- Negative score (e.g. -0.3) — Students made less progress than expected. A -0.3 means roughly a third of a grade lower
The beauty of this system is that it levels the playing field. A school serving disadvantaged students can score just as highly as a grammar school — if they're helping students improve.
What Counts Towards Progress 8
Progress 8 measures results across 8 qualifications, organised into specific "buckets":
- English (double weighted) — English Language and/or English Literature
- Maths (double weighted) — GCSE Mathematics
- 3 EBacc subjects — Sciences, Computer Science, Geography, History, or Languages
- 3 other subjects — Any approved GCSEs or vocational qualifications
Because English and Maths are double weighted, they account for 4 of the 8 "slots". This reflects the government's view that these core subjects are essential for future success.
What Makes a Good Progress 8 Score?
The Department for Education considers different score bands:
- +0.5 or higher — Well above average (excellent)
- +0.2 to +0.5 — Above average
- -0.2 to +0.2 — Average (most schools fall here)
- -0.5 to -0.2 — Below average
- Below -0.5 — Well below average (may trigger Ofsted intervention)
Schools with scores below -0.5 for multiple years may face increased scrutiny from Ofsted and could be required to make significant improvements.
Limitations to Be Aware Of
No single measure tells the whole story. Progress 8 has some important limitations:
- Only measures academic progress — It doesn't capture pastoral care, wellbeing, character development, or extracurricular opportunities
- Based on KS2 tests — Some argue these tests don't capture all types of intelligence or ability
- Can fluctuate yearly — A school's score might change significantly based on the particular cohort of students
- Potential for gaming — Schools might focus on subjects that fill "buckets" rather than what's best for individual students
For a complete picture, combine Progress 8 with Ofsted reports, school visits, and conversations with current parents and students.
Where to Find Progress 8 Data
Progress 8 scores are published on the DfE school performance tables. You can search for any secondary school and see their historical Progress 8 scores going back several years.
Remember that looking at trends over multiple years gives you a better picture than any single year's score.