Alps KS4 and KS5 Customer Benchmarks in 2025 - analysis and recommendations - AUGUST 2025
Last updated 4 September 2025
This article will serve as the index for all updates with regards to our Alps Customer Benchmarks across August and September 2025. In it, we will publish links to the articles providing analysis and recommendations for each qualification type as we generate the customer benchmark and release into Connect and Summit.
Since September 2022, we have provided schools and colleges in England with analysis based on data submitted to Alps from customers. In Wales this customer benchmark has been available since 2023. This analysis has been made available through a benchmark toggle in Connect.
The customer benchmarks were generated in response to the unique nature of examination outcomes resulting from pandemic disruption.
Benchmark decisions this year are complex. This article is detailed and encompasses all analysis from our customer benchmarks, decisions for deployment of the benchmarks and recommendations. If you want a helpful summary, you can find it here: https://support.alps.education/portal/en/kb/articles/recommendations-for-benchmark-selection. This article is available to colleagues from the benchmark selection lozenge in the top bar of Connect/Summit.
Here is a summary of recommendations
Benchmark toggle in Connect
For certain years we provide schools and colleges with the option of viewing your analysis against two different benchmark data sets, usually against a national benchmark (based on data received from the DfE) or an Alps benchmark (based on data received from customers/alternative dataset). Where available, this analysis can be accessed through the benchmark toggle in Connect or Summit, which allows you to select the benchmark set which best fits your analysis needs.
Important: 2025 KS4 Customer benchmarks
We are not producing 2025 Alps Customer Benchmarks for KS4, since nationally there is no standardised prior attainment starting point this year, due to the cancelled KS2 SATS during COVID.
We are not producing 2025 Alps Customer Benchmarks for KS4, since nationally there is no standardised prior attainment starting point this year, due to the cancelled KS2 SATS during COVID.
For KS4 analysis in Connect, the Toggle 1 (“National Dataset”) is the default benchmark we recommend, however in England, the data on Toggle 1 and Toggle 2 will be identical.
In Wales we have not been able to produce KS4 benchmarks, and therefore there will be no data in Toggle 2 (“Alps Customer Dataset”) for KS4 this year, so the analysis on this toggle will be blank.
2025 Alps Customer Benchmark timeline
We will generate Customer Benchmarks for the following qualifications on the following dates after which we will publish articles outlining decisions and recommendations (links in relevant sections below):
In England, including Jersey:
A level: In Connect and Summit by 27 August 2025 - complete and in platform
BTEC and Cam Tec: In Connect and Summit by 4 September 2025 - IMPORTANT: see article for vocational KS5 below
WJEC L3: In Connect and Summit by 10 September 2025 - IMPORTANT: see article for vocational KS5 below
UAL: In Connect and Summit by 18 September 2025 - IMPORTANT: see article for vocational KS5 below
Key Stage 4 England and Jersey: The latest dataset used is the 2024 DfE national. This dataset is used both on the National Benchmark set (Toggle 1), and the Alps Benchmark set (Toggle 2).
In Wales:
A level: In Connect and Summit by 8 September 2025
WJEC L3: In Connect and Summit by 12 September 2025
Key Stage 4 Wales: The dataset used is the dataset from 2019. There is no toggle for KS4. Any analysis on the 'Customer' benchmark toggle will be blank.
England: 2025 KS5 and KS4 Benchmarks tables
The grids below shows which benchmark is being used for the 'National benchmark set' and the 'Alps Customer benchmark' toggles in Connect and Summit across the last 5 years. Rationale for recommendations can be found in the sections below the tables.
KS5 England
The orange highlighted boxes indicate our recommended benchmark set for analysis of Alps 2025 outcomes.
Where there are yellow boxes, there are arguments for the use of either toggle. Please read the Vocational article for more information about the Applied General analysis from customer benchmark perspective.
Important note: The benchmark set on the 'Alps Customer' toggle (2) is now populated with the Customer benchmark for A level ONLY. All vocational qualifications at KS5 and IB analysis is currently based on the 2024 DfE national dataset and will be overwritten as we progress through our Customer benchmark timeline.
KS4 England
A level England Alps Customer benchmark:
These were released into Connect and Summit on 22 August 2025. The article containing the analysis and interpretation of this benchmark can be found here:
Summary
- The value-added profile generated from the 2025 Alps Customer Benchmark is more similar to the value-added profile produced from the 2019 DfE national dataset then the 2024 DfE national dataset.
- The 2019 DfE national dataset does appear to be slightly more exacting than the 2025 Alps Customer benchmark. Using the DfE 2019 to measure analysis would potentially produce a more cautious overall grading than might ultimately be the case when the 2025 DfE national dataset becomes available.
- Based on figures in this analysis, using the 2024 DfE national benchmark for results analysis will lead to an overestimation of performance.
- In 2024, the value-added produced from the Alps customer benchmark was very much in line with the final DfE national value-added picture.
- Therefore, at this point in time, we recommend using the 2025 Alps Customer benchmark set for your 2025 A level examination analysis.
BTEC/Cam Tec England Alps Customer benchmark:
These were due to be released into Connect and Summit by 4 September 2025.
We have carried out detailed analysis of the Alps Customer vocational benchmarks and have arrived at the decision NOT to integrate these into the platform. We do not feel that the dataset is a representative sub-set of the national and would present an overly negative value-added picture.
The article below details the decisions made regarding the benchmarks that are being used in the platforms for vocational analysis and tracking at KS5.
WJEC England and UAL England Alps Customer benchmark:
The customer benchmark for the WJECs was due to be released into Connect and Summit by 10 September 2025, and UALs by 18th September 2025. The decisions and analysis from the BTEC/Cam Tec customer benchmark have been applied to these qualifications and are therefore covered in the article above.
Wales: 2025 KS5 Alps Customer Benchmarks
The default benchmark for analysis on Results Day was the National Standard Dataset used in 2019. The Alps Customer Benchmarks will be available on 8 September 2025.
The article in the section below presents an overview of the 2025 Alps Customer benchmark for Wales. Our recommendation is to use this benchmark to analyse results from Monday 8th September.
The situation for examination outcomes in 2025 for A level is once again unique this summer:
- In Wales
- students completing their Key Stage 5 courses in 2019 have slightly elevated prior attainment baselines from Key Stage 4 than the cohort in 2019.
- The overall outcome standards were higher than in 2019 but not enough to balance the elevated prior attainment baseline.
- Our recommendation is to use the 2025 Alps Customer Benchmark to analyse results from 2025 (Toggle 2)
- Our recommendation for target setting and tracking for 2025/26 is to use the 2019 National Standard (Toggle 1)
- See article in section below for more information on these decisions
The tables below show a summary of the datasets currently in Connect and Summit for each Wales KS5 & KS4 cohort. The datasets are different depending on whether you select the 'National' or the 'Customer' toggle.
Wales KS5
Note that the customer benchmarks will include A level data from Welsh schools and colleges only.
Wales KS4
1. A level Wales Alps Customer Benchmark:
These will be released into Connect and Summit by 8 September 2025. The article containing the analysis and interpretation of this benchmark can be found below.
2. WJEC Wales Alps Customer Benchmark:
These will be released into Connect and Summit by 12 September 2025. The article containing the analysis and interpretation of this benchmark will be linked here on 11 September 2025.
Alps Analysis of WJEC L3 WALES - September 2025.
Switching your Benchmark
The article linked below outlines how to switch your benchmark from within Connect or Summit.
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