Primary

Latest data for the 2024/25 academic year from the DFE show that in Primary*:

• At primary, 85% of pupils at free schools meet the required standard in the phonics screening check compared to 81% of pupils at mainstream state primary schools.

• The average attainment score in the multiplication tables check was 21.8 for pupils at free schools, compared to an average of 21.0 in mainstream state primary schools.

• 70% of pupils at free schools meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2 compared to 63% of pupils at mainstream state schools.

*In primary the comparison is between mainstream free schools and all state funded mainstream schools – the DfE data does not breakdown the special school data into maintained, academy or free school.

Secondary

Latest data for the 2024/25 academic year from the DFE show that in Secondary:

• 49.3% of pupils at free schools achieved grades 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE, compared to an average of 46.3% in all mainstream state schools.

• 86.5% of pupils at free schools and 88.5% of pupils at 16-19 free schools achieved grades A*-C in their A levels, compared with 84.9% at all state-funded schools and colleges.