Overview article for all analysis from 2025 DfE datasets
We are in the process of generating benchmarks from the national dataset published by the DfE following the 2025 examinations at KS5. Alps is only one of seven companies that are given access to the full dataset by the DfE.
At KS5, the 2025 DfE national data represents the potential return to a post-pandemic baseline in terms of value-added. The benchmarks generated from this 2025 dataset will be used to replace the 2019 DfE dataset, which has been our default benchmark in Connect and Summit since 2019.
Over the next 8 weeks, we will be using the 2025 DfE benchmarks to replace the 2019 DfE benchmarks in Connect and Summit. We will update this article at each stage.
The articles linked to this main overview page will also outline key headline takeaways from the new 2025 benchmarks, how they will be used across the Connect and Summit platforms and our recommendations on how to select the most appropriate benchmark according to academic year and cohort. Each successive qualification will have benchmarks generated and released into Connect and Summit in line with the timeline shown below. Note that the new benchmarks will apply to schools and colleges in England, Jersey and international providers.
You will be notified of updates to the benchmarks via our in-app messaging service on login to Connect and/or Summit.
NOTE that at KS4, as there has been no published data for Progress 8 in 2024/25, we will not be publishing an updated benchmark for 2025 outcomes. The dataset used in Connect and Summit for England and Jersey at KS4 will continue to be the 2024 DfE national dataset. As standards in KS4 returned to a baseline in 2024, we are confident that this remains the most relevant national dataset.
Timeline:
1. A level
A level England and A level Jersey - the 2025 DfE benchmark were integrated into Connect and Summit at 8.30am on 19 February 2026.
The 2025 DfE national dataset was deployed retrospectively to all KS5 gradepoints for the academic year 2024-2025, including results from 2025 examinations. This therefore replaced the previous 2019 DfE benchmark on our National (toggle 1) gradepoint selector. This means that if you have used this dataset for the analysis of outcomes and determination of development priorities in August/September 2025, there are likely to have been changes to this analysis.
The Alps Customer benchmark for 2024-2025 remains on the Customer (toggle 2) selector. If you have made development judgements using this dataset there has been no change to your analysis.
Note that the LIBF qualifications formed part of this release as did the L3 Core Maths.
Monitoring 2025-2026: The 2025 DfE national benchmark is now the default benchmark for these students. It had previously been the DfE 2019 dataset as we felt this was the most representative benchmark for this cohort in terms of prior attainment and outcome context. This means that your tracking analysis may have changed with the switch of datasets.
High level summary from A level outcomes 2025
The value-added outcomes for the DfE 2025 national dataset for A level is very similar to the Alps Customer benchmark for 2025. Therefore if you have been monitoring your current Year Groups against this Customer benchmark, you are likely to have seen little change in your analysis.
As predicted at the beginning of the academic year, the 2019 DfE national dataset is slightly more exacting than the new 2025 DfE national dataset, therefore for the majority (but not all) colleagues, you are likely to have seen broadly no change or a slight uplift in term of value-added in terms of your Quality Indicator (QI) grade.
2. KS5 Vocational
The release of KS5 Vocational benchmarks in March contains the following qualification types:
L3 BTECs
L3 Cam Tecs
L3 WJECs
UAL
CACHE qualifications
High level summary from vocational outcomes 2025
IMPORTANT : As predicted, both the 2019 and 2024 DfE National datasets used for Vocational analysis gave an overestimate of value-added progress for vocational qualifications, compared to the new updated benchmarks created from the 2025 DfE data. As we anticipated, the 2019 National dataset was a closer match with the new 2025 dataset, however it is still likely to be for many providers an overestimate of value-added progress
This means that you may be likely to see a decrease in your Quality Indicator (QI) Alps grade against the new Alps 2025 DfE Benchmarks. The picture for vocational is more variable that at A level.
- If you have been using the 2019 DfE benchmark for 2025 Vocational results analysis and monitoring (Toggle 1), generally speaking you are most likely to see either a similar QI grade (70% of providers) or a 1 grade decrease in your Alps QI grade (19% of providers).
- If you have been using the 2024 DfE benchmark for 2025 Vocational results analysis and monitoring (Toggle 2), you are likely to see a more marked decrease in your Alps QI grade with only 35% of providers retaining the same grade.
3. International Baccalaureate, IB
From Friday 27th March 2026
High level summary from IB outcomes 2025
The value-added generated from the 2025 dataset is broadly in line with that generated from the 2019 dataset. Therefore colleagues are likely to see a similar value-added picture across the strategic IB indicators.