Prevalence % of low educational attainment at key stage 4 by sociodemographic and parental characteristics
| % (N) | Low attainment % | OR | 95% CI | |
| Sex | ||||
| Male | 51.6 (550) | 42.0 | 1 | Ref |
| Female | 48.4 (560) | 31.5*** | 0.64*** | (0.49 to 0.83) |
| Age (years) | ||||
| 11 | 1.1 (14) | 65.5* | 3.42* | (1.05 to 11.15) |
| 12 | 9.7 (111) | 38.4 | 1.12 | (0.72 to 1.76) |
| 13 | 38.9 (432) | 37.3 | 1.07 | (0.81,1.42) |
| 14 | 50.4 (553) | 35.7 | 1.00 | Ref |
| Ethnic group | ||||
| White British | 86.1 (839) | 36.9 | 1 | Ref |
| Other ethnic group | 13.9 (271) | 37.0 | 1.00 | (0.72 to 1.40) |
| Parental highest social class (NS-SEC) | ||||
| Management and professional | 41.8 (439) | 23.4 | 1.00 | Ref |
| Intermediate | 22.7 (253) | 34.2** | 1.70** | (1.19 to 2.44) |
| Routine and manual | 31.0 (345) | 53.6** | 3.79*** | (2.74 to 5.25) |
| Unemployed | 4.4 (53) | 61.3** | 5.18*** | (2.60 to 10.35) |
| Mother’s highest qualification | ||||
| Degree or higher | 33.2 (351) | 24.0 | 1 | Ref |
| A-level or equivalent | 17.5 (185) | 21.8 | 0.88 | (0.57 to 1.38) |
| GCSE or equivalent | 29.5 (309) | 41.3*** | 2.23*** | (1.57 to 3.19) |
| None/other | 19.8 (239) | 65.4*** | 6.00*** | (4.06 to 8.86) |
| Household poverty score | ||||
| Not at all deprived | 20.9 (179) | 16.2 | 1 | Ref |
| Somewhat deprived | 54.0 (493) | 35.8*** | 2.89*** | (1.84 to 4.56) |
| Highly deprived | 25.1 (266) | 56.5*** | 6.74*** | (4.08 to 11.13) |
| Family composition | ||||
| Two parent | 69.7 (759) | 32.9 | 1 | Ref |
| Single parent | 27.8 (321) | 47.6*** | 1.86*** | (1.39 to 2.47) |
| Other | 2.5 (30) | Suppressed | – | – |
| Happy with school work | ||||
| Happy | 74.7 (840) | 29.6 | 1 | Ref |
| Not happy | 25.3 (263) | 58.6*** | 3.38*** | (2.49 to 4.57) |
| Happy with school | ||||
| Happy | 78.6 (876) | 32.0 | 1 | Ref |
| Not happy | 21.4 (220) | 54.7*** | 2.57*** | (1.86 to 3.53) |
| Parental interest in school | ||||
| Always or nearly always | 79.0 (871) | 34.4 | 1 | Ref |
| Sometimes or rarely | 21.0 (220) | 46.4** | 1.66** | (1.20 to 2.28) |
| Regularly attends parents’ evenings | ||||
| Always or nearly always | 81.1 (896) | 29.6 | 1 | Ref |
| Sometimes or rarely | 18.9 (199) | 68.0*** | 5.05*** | (3.56 to 7.16) |
| Feels supported by family | ||||
| Always or mostly | 76.3 (837) | 34.7 | 1 | Ref |
| Not supported | 23.7 (269) | 44.1* | 1.49* | (1.10 to 2.02) |
| Regularly quarrels with either parent | ||||
| Less than once a week | 60.0 (662) | 33.1 | 1 | Ref |
| More than once a week | 40.0 (423) | 42.6** | 1.50** | (1.14 to 1.97) |
| Parental mental health | ||||
| Not poor | 56.8 (539) | 30.0 | 1 | Ref |
| Poor | 43.2 (423) | 46.0*** | 1.98*** | (1.50 to 2.62) |
| Parental physical health | ||||
| Not poor | 58.6 (564) | 32.9 | 1 | Ref |
| Poor | 41.4 (402) | 42.6** | 1.52** | (1.15 to 2.00) |
| Attainment at key stage 2 Maths | ||||
| Achieved level 4 | 71.5 (860) | 26.6 | 1 | Ref |
| Did not achieve level 4 | 17.4 (169) | 85.9*** | 16.92*** | (10.65 to 26.87) |
| Attainment at key stage 2 Writing | ||||
| Achieved level 4 | 82.6 (270) | 22.2 | 1 | Ref |
| Did not achieve level 4 | 28.4 (759) | 73.9*** | 9.96*** | (7.14 to 13.90) |
| Attainment at key stage 2 Reading | ||||
| Achieved level 4 | 92.3 (947) | 32.4 | 1 | Ref |
| Did not achieve level 4 | 7.7 (74) | 91.5*** | 22.65*** | (9.85 to 52.09) |
Ref=reference group; unweighted N; imputed and weighted percentages shown; low educational attainment defined as <5 GCSEs at A*–C including English and maths; some values are suppressed due to small base sizes and risk of disclosure; *** p<0.001, **p<0.01, *p<0.05.
GCSE, General Certificate of Secondary Education.