CEER Publications

The Publications are organised in three groups:

  1. the most recent are available below
  2. Annual Reports
  3. Archive Reports

CEER A-levels 2022 front coverA-levels 2022: Return to Exams

Buckingham: CEER, August 2022

The Government has asked the regulators to set boundaries so that the grades will be about half way between those of 2019 and 2021.

Keeping entries at the 2021 level, in 2022, there will be about 80,000 of the exam entries not awarded the top grade they would have received last year. In fact, entries rose by 4%, so the shortfall becomes 82,500.

Download: A-levels 2022: Return to Exams

GCSE 2022 Back to the future front coverGCSE 2022: Back to the Future?

Buckingham: CEER, August 2022

There will be a record drop in top GCSE grades this year. In order to restore the value of GCSE grades, the government has asked Ofqual to reduce the percentages awarded to halfway between those of 2021 and 2019.

About 25% are likely to receive top grades (7/A) this year compared with the 28.9% in 2021. This would mean about 230,000 fewer reaching this level of achievement, but of course 230,000 more than in 2019.

Download: GCSE 2022: Back to the Future?

Are Schools Failing Boys?

Buckingham: CEER, January 2022

Boys are getting poorer results, on average, at all levels of education. This has been known for some time, but little has been done about it. It appears that many boys are not developing to their full potential. The seriousness of the issue is such that it calls for a major national inquiry.

Download: Are Schools Failing Boys?

Where Next for Apprenticeships 2016 Report

Where Next for Apprenticeships 2016

CIPD, August 2016

In a policy report of the Chartered Institute for Personnel Development edited by Tess Lanning, Alan Smithers argues that the introduction of national apprenticeship qualifications would turn the government’s hopes for the new apprenticeships into reality.

Download: Where Next for Apprenticeships 2016 (PDF).

Social Disadvantage and Widening Access to Universities Report

Social Disadvantage and Widening Access to Universities

Buckingham: CEER, November 2015

Achievement in higher education is not uniformly spread across the various sections of society. Females, those from higher income backgrounds, those from more affluent neighbourhoods, and those who are white, gain proportionally more good degrees. Universities face a dilemma: to admit on excellence or representativeness.

Download: Social Disadvantage and Widening Access to Universities (PDF).

HEFCE’s Blunder Report

HEFCE’s Blunder

Buckingham: CEER, November 2015

HEFCE has made a crucial error in its latest report on degree outcomes. It states that 82% of those getting firsts or upper-seconds in 2013-14 came from state schools against 73 per cent from independent schools, whereas the analysis actually shows the reverse to be the case.

Download: HEFCE’s Blunder (PDF)

The Coalition Effect, 2010-2015 Report

The Coalition Effect, 2010-2015

Edited by Anthony Seldon and Mike Finn, Cambridge University Press, pages 257-289, March 2015

The government rushed to unsettling reforms of education but was given an ‘easy ride’ by Labour. Michael Gove’s departure left a lot of unfinished business on academies, qualifications, apprenticeships and fair funding. A new Conservative-led government is very likely to see these through. But what Labour would do is far from clear since so far it has offered only bits and pieces.

Download: The Coalition Effect, 2010-2015 (PDF)

The Ins and Outs of Selective Secondary Schools Report

The Ins and Outs of Selective Secondary Schools

London: Civitas, pages 194-205, March 2015

There has to be selection in education since people differ greatly in their talents, interests and aspirations. Fifteen would be a good age allowing for an array of interconnected three-year pathways across the academic and occupational.

Download: The Ins and Outs of Selective Secondary Schools