Enhanced Data Accessibility for Educational Outcomes
Ofqual has launched an updated interactive map in anticipation of this year’s results days, providing students, policymakers, and the general public with a more comprehensive view of qualification outcomes throughout England. This marks the inaugural publication of qualification results and subject uptake at the local authority level on results days, coinciding with an increase in local leaders’ authority to influence decisions that affect their communities.
Starting from Friday, 7 August, the Ofqual Analytics platform allows users to delve into results segmented by local authority district, administrative county, unitary authority, and administrative region. This enhancement responds to user feedback for more detailed and regionally accurate data, reflecting the increasing relevance of local and regional statistics as decision-making authority is shifted closer to community levels. Previously, the map provided information based on ceremonial counties, which offered limited regional insights.
Detailed Insights into Educational Performance
The updated map illustrates the percentage of students attaining specific grades in various subjects across different regions of England, as well as subject uptake—indicating the number of students enrolled in each subject within a given area. Thousands of individuals access Ofqual’s Analytics webpages during results week, with the platform covering GCSEs, A Levels, T Level Technical Qualifications, and Performance Table Qualifications.
Sir Ian Bauckham, Chief Regulator at Ofqual, stated that “clear and useful data on qualifications and outcomes by local authority and region will empower local leaders and policymakers, along with students and parents, to gain a robust understanding of performance within their area.” He emphasised the importance of having empirical evidence available as power and accountability increasingly reside with local communities.
Addressing Inequalities in Educational Outcomes
Jon Andrews, Head of Analysis at the Education Policy Institute, highlighted the significance of results days as a key event in the educational calendar. While the primary focus is on the thousands of students receiving their results, it also serves as an opportunity to evaluate the overall performance of the educational system. The introduction of these new data breakdowns will facilitate timely analyses of disparities in outcomes across the nation.
The results data for 2026 will be accessible on the platform starting at 9:30 am on results days, specifically on Thursday, 13 August 2026, for A Level results and Thursday, 20 August 2026, for GCSE results. Users can expect the data to appear within a few minutes of release.
Understanding the Data Behind Qualifications
Ofqual Analytics offers a selection of interactive visualisations that allow users to explore the data collected by Ofqual concerning the qualifications system in England. As of today, users can access the newly formatted visualisations for GCSE and A Level results spanning from 2019 to 2025.
It is important to note that all visualisations presented on results days are based on Ofqual’s own data, which may exhibit minor discrepancies from figures reported by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ). This is due to Ofqual receiving data directly from awarding organisations slightly earlier than the JCQ, during which a small number of results may still be in processing.
Additionally, the Department for Education (DfE) publishes statistics on key stage 4 performance as well as A Level and other results for students aged 16 to 18 later in the year, which include some regional and local authority breakdowns.
For media inquiries, please reach out to Ofqual’s press office at media@ofqual.gov.uk or contact them via telephone at 0300 303 3014.