The 2026 Alps Customer Benchmarks: Analysis and recommendations - OVERVIEW ARTICLE

The 2026 Alps Customer Benchmarks: Analysis and recommendations - OVERVIEW ARTICLE


Last updated 21 August 2026

This article will act as the central hub for all Alps Customer Benchmark updates published during August and September 2026. Links to detailed analysis articles for each qualification type will be added here as they become available. 

2026 CUSTOMER BENCHMARKS TIMELINE  

1. A Level ENGLAND & JERSEY. BTEC Level 3 ENGLAND & JERSEY

Supporting article for A level and BTEC L3 release decisions: https://support.alps.education/portal/en/kb/articles/a-level-and-btec-level-3-england-jersey-analysis-of-customer-benchmarks

Overall attainment standards at KS5 in England for 2026 is broadly in line with those of 2025. Prior attainment of students completing Level 3 courses in 2026 (GCSE results in 2024) is broadly in line with those of last year's cohort who sat GCSEs in 2023. Therefore the value-added picture for 2026 outcomes was expected to be in line with that of 2025. 

As a result, the analysis of the Alps customer data for the 2026 outcomes for both A level and BTEC Level 3 shows very little deviation from the 2025 DfE national dataset, the current default benchmark set for Connect and Summit. In addition, it is almost identical to the Alps customer benchmark from the 2025 results. 

Decision on the use of the 2026 Alps Customer Benchmark for KS5 in England and Jersey 

  1. It is the opinion of the Alps team that the value-added provided by the 2026 Alps Customer Benchmarks will mirror that provided by the existing 2025 DfE national dataset.
  2. the 2026 DfE national dataset when available (Feb/March 2027) will provide value-added analysis in line with the 2025 DfE national dataset
  3. therefore, we have decided not to release the 2026 Alps customer benchmark for A level or Level 3 vocational qualifications 
  4. When we have the national dataset for 2026 from the DfE we will again use it to replace the DfE 2025 data in the platforms.


We feel that this will simplify the decisions you need to make over benchmark selection both for the analysis of your KS5 results and the subsequent tracking of new cohorts across 2026/2027. 

We are in the process of removing the Customer Benchmark toggle from the platform to aid in keeping Connect and Summit as easy to use as possible. 

2. KS4 ENGLAND: 

We are not producing 2026 Alps Customer Benchmarks for KS4, since nationally there is no standardised prior attainment again this year, due to the cancelled KS2 SATS during COVID. For KS4 analysis in Connect, the default benchmark set will remain as the 2024 DfE National dataset. 



3. A Level WALES

Release to Connect and Summit: By 12pm BST on Wednesday 9 September 2026 

A link to the supporting article on A Level analysis and decisions will be published here prior to the release.

A Level Wales - the 2026 Alps Customer benchmark will be integrated into Connect and Summit before 12pm on Wednesday 9 September 2026. 

We will also publish a high level summary from A Level outcomes (Alps Customer Benchmark) once the benchmark has been generated.


KS5 WALES: Key Information for Results Day prior to the release of the Alps Customer benchmark


The default dataset on Toggle 1 (National dataset) on KS5 Results Day is the 2019 National dataset. 

Due to the unique nature of the value-added picture in Wales at KS5 in 2026, it is our intention to publish Welsh only benchmarks for the qualification types listed below. This will rely on having a sufficient amount of Welsh data from which to generate the dataset. 
  1. A level Wales, including the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales
  2. AS level Wales
  3. WJEC Level 3 qualifications 

4. AS Level and WJEC L3 WALES

Release to Connect and Summit: By End September 2026 

A link to the supporting article on AS Level analysis and decisions will be published here prior to the release.

AS Level Wales - the 2026 Alps Customer benchmark (if sufficient data allows) will be integrated into Connect and Summit before end September 2026. 

We will also publish a high level summary from AS Level outcomes (Alps Customer Benchmark) once the benchmark has been generated.


KS4 WALES: Key Information for Results Day

The default dataset for Results Day will not change. Toggle 1 will continue to show the existing benchmark as per monitoring across the year. 

Please note: we will generate a new 2026 Alps Customer benchmark for KS4 to support Curriculum for Wales from September 2026 onwards. This will be a Welsh only benchmark and can be used with incoming Year 10 and 11 students only. For more information click here. 




Helpful Guidance on Switching your Benchmarks:

  1. A reminder on our recommendations for benchmark selection can be found here: https://support.alps.education/portal/en/kb/articles/recommendations-for-benchmark-selection
  2. A reminder for how to use the toggle: https://support.alps.education/portal/en/kb/articles/benchmark-selector