Improving education and pathways for young people
Performance reflections
In KS2 attainment for reading, writing and maths combined, there has been an improvement in performance in Coventry in 2025 and at a faster rate than national. Outcomes remain below national, but we have maintained performance when compared with statistical neighbours. The individual attainment for each of reading, writing and maths improved.
In KS4 the Attainment 8 measure for 2025 decreased whilst national slightly increased from the previous year. This was following a significant increase in 2024. In English and Maths combined, for both the standard pass (GCSE grade 4) and strong pass (GCSE grade 5), there has been a decrease in performance in Coventry in 2025. Coventry is below national but above statistical neighbours.
There will be no Progress 8 measure for the next 2 years (2024 to 2025 and 2025 to 2026) due to the lack of KS2 national assessment data from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Twenty-three percent of children in care who are school leavers up to the age of 18 were ‘NEET’, not in employment, education or training. This is a positive position, and a better position than bordering areas. This academic year we have transitioned the Post 16 cohort onto our EPEP system for consistent tracking of their employment, education or training status and education settings we have also introduced earlier careers advice into year 11 for all children in care for NEET prevention.
Also, we usually record both NEETs and ‘not knowns’ rather than just the NEET figure, this is because although some LAs have low NEETs they have high “not knowns”. Coventry has zero “not knowns”.
Actions taken in year
During the year, the Coventry Education Partnership continued to bring together all schools, academies, trusts and the Local Authority to improve outcomes and aspirations for young people. This work has been underpinned by a strong moral commitment to collaboration, with partnership working across the city consistently recognised as a key strength.
The Local Authority has acted as a central facilitator, coordinating partnership activity and enabling collective action against agreed priorities, while continuing to fulfil its statutory responsibilities for education and safeguarding. Regular headteacher partnership meetings have remained a key feature of the collaborative approach. Agendas are co-produced with representative headteachers, ensuring a balance of statutory updates and the sharing of effective practice.
Alongside these, the Local Authority has facilitated a range of focused forums to support delivery in priority areas, including inclusion and SEND, safeguarding, finance, Early Years and curriculum development. Engagement with academy trusts has been further strengthened to support alignment across all sectors.
School-led improvement has continued through secondary collaboratives and primary networks, with funded headteachers and CEOs leading this work. These groups have aligned their activity to partnership priorities, reinforcing a strong model of school-to-school support.
Targeted improvement activity has been delivered across networks and collaboratives, including work focused on writing outcomes, adaptive provision, peer-led headteacher enquiry and improved pupil induction in response to high levels of mobility. Investment through the SEND Workforce Strategy has also strengthened workforce capability and inclusive practice.
The Local Authority has continued to promote careers and aspirations, contributing to the Coventry Careers Hub and leading Primary Aspirations Week, engaging schools, employers and pupils across the city.