Research and analysis

GCSE outcomes for pupils with EHCPs: comparison of mainstream and special schools

Analysis of GCSE outcomes for pupils with education, health and care plans (EHCPs) comparing those educated in mainstream schools with those in special schools.

From:
Department for Education
Published
20 February 2026

Applies to England

Documents

GCSE outcomes for pupils with EHCPs: mainstream versus special school settings summary report

PDF, 678 KB, 22 pages

GCSE outcomes for pupils with EHCPs: mainstream versus special school settings technical report

Ref: ISBN 978-1-83870-753-8, RR1608

PDF, 11.3 MB, 237 pages

Details

This analysis examines GCSE attainment in English and Mathematics for pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and compares outcomes between mainstream and special school settings.

It covers 94,927 pupils across 13 academic years between 2011 and 2024. It uses multiple statistical methods and controls for:

  • prior attainment at key stage 2
  • type of special educational need
  • demographic characteristics

The summary report provides an overview of key findings and their implications.

The technical report is for those seeking further analytical detail. It provides:

  • a full methodology
  • detailed results
  • diagnostic assessments
  • statistical appendices

Updates to this page

Published 20 February 2026

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