Educational attainment 2023
Previous research carried out by RNIB indicates that pupils with a primary Special Educational Need (SEN) of vision impairment (VI) have a lower level of attainment compared to pupils without a SEN. This briefing reports on the latest attainment data in England, covering the academic year 2022/23.
The data in this briefing is taken from the UK Department for Education (DfE). It is updated on an annual basis and shows the attainment of pupils registered with vision impairment (VI) as their primary special educational need (SEN) from Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) through to GCSE level in England.
Pupils recorded with VI as their secondary SEN are not included in published attainment data, therefore a significant population of pupils are not included in this report.
In the 2022/23 academic year; of the 18,691 total pupils registered with VI:
- 13,596 pupils (73 per cent) were registered with VI as their primary SEN.
- 5,095 pupils (27 per cent) were registered with VI as their secondary SEN.
Top line findings
- Pupils with vision impairment continue to have lower levels of educational attainment compared to pupils with no Special Educational Need.
- This gap in attainment can be evidenced at Early Years Foundation Stage through to GCSEs.
- There has been no significant reduction in the attainment gap in the last 12 months.
