Consistent performance measures for post-16 learning (achievement): August 2022 to July 2023

A report on the completion and success rates of learners on vocational programmes, general education programmes (including A Levels) and the Welsh Baccalaureate for August 2022 to July 2023.

The tables accompanying this report were revised on 21 March 2024. The pass rate for the “Course achievement measures other than A level” tables was calculated incorrectly, and there was an issue with some of the 2021/22 Welsh Baccalaureate percentages.

This report covers outcomes for general education and vocational education in sixth forms and colleges.

General education (A levels)

Grade outcomes were broadly midway between 2018/19 and 2021/22, as planned.
Fewer learners went onto their second year of A levels and fewer learners completed their A levels compared to 2021/22.
The fall in learners starting their second year of A levels may be partly due to the fall in AS grades, learners who didn’t achieve 3 AS levels were much less likely to continue.
52% of female AS learners went on to achieve three Cs at A level, compared to 42% of male learners.
49% of 16 year old AS learners went on to achieve three Cs at A level, compared to 21% of older learners.
Learners from deprived backgrounds were less likely to complete their A levels and less likely to get high grades if they did.
The deprivation grade gap narrowed in 2022/23, but the completion gap widened.
Learners from Black, African, Caribbean, Black British or Black Welsh backgrounds had lower A level outcomes than other ethnic groups, including a large drop in completion.
The inequality in outcomes for learners with Black, African, Caribbean, Black British or Black Welsh backgrounds started before post-16 education, when compared to learners with similar GCSEs, learners from these backgrounds achieved above average outcomes.
The differences between ethnic groups generally narrowed for both vocational and general education learners.

Vocational education

Vocational outcomes are recovering from their coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic fall but generally remained below pre-pandemic levels.
Fewer vocational learners did not complete their programme due to ‘Personal reasons’ and more did not complete due to ‘Failure.’
Outcomes for Access to Higher Education programmes declined, unlike other programmes.
Vocational learners linked to experiences of deprivation had lower outcomes than those who were not, but the relationship was less strong than in general education.

Welsh Baccalaureate (Welsh Bacc)

Outcomes for the Welsh Bacc fell for general education learners but remained above pre-pandemic levels.
Vocational learners continued to have lower outcomes than general education learners, but the gap shrank.

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