Academic Achievement and Entitlement to Free School Meals, 2008

Statistics on Academic Achievement and Entitlement to Free School Meals include data Wales for the period up to 2008.  The latest release updates the statistics previously released on 26 March 2008.

This bulletin provides an annual update on the statistical relationship between the eligibility for FSM and academic achievement.  The statistical models fitted are similar for each year analysed, implying that the strength of the relationship is constant over time.

For each of the performance indicators selected, there is a strong link between achievement and the level of entitlement to free school meals: as the level of FSM entitlement increases, the level of achievement decreases.

The relationship is non-linear.  At higher levels of FSM entitlement, reductions in entitlement have a relatively small effect on expected achievement.  At lower levels of FSM entitlement, reductions in entitlement have a large effect on expected achievement.

Contact

Tel: 029 2082 5514
E-mail: school.stats@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Next update

March 2010 (provisional - to be confirmed on the Due Out Soon page)