Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of educational attainment in Pupil Referral Units; and what proportion of pupils in those units gain at least five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4.

Data is published on the educational attainment of pupils at the end Key Stage 4 in pupil referral units and alternative provision (AP) in the annual Key Stage 4 performance National Statistics release, which can be accessed here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/key-stage-4-performance-revised.

The proportion of pupils who gained at least five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 in academic year 2021/22 in pupil referral units can be found in the attached spreadsheet.

There are many reasons why children who attend AP at Key Stage 4 may face challenges gaining GCSE grades, so it is vital that they receive a high quality education alongside appropriate support. We need to be just as ambitious for pupils in AP as we are for those in mainstream schools. The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and AP Improvement Plan, published on 2 March 2023, set out a new national vision and delivery model for the AP system to improve the outcomes of the vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people it supports.