This article details what the AAB (Facilitating) KS5 performance measure is, and how it is calculated. Calculations are supported with worked examples.
What is the AAB (Facilitating) measure?
The AAB Measure is used to show those students who have achieved at least AAB in 3 A Levels of which at least two or three are classified as facilitating subjects. The facilitating subjects are Biology, Chemistry, Classical / Modern Languages, English Literature, Further Geography, History, Mathematics, and Physics. Historically, the AAB measure has been used as a way to recognise excellent A Level results in subjects that support progression into top universities, while keeping student options open.
Pupil and Qualification Inclusion
The AAB Measure applies to a subset of the A Level pupils, who were entered for at least one full sized A Level, excluding Applied A Levels. This measure includes Double Award A Levels. It does not include AS Levels, General Studies or Critical Thinking. When a student is entered for less than 3 A Levels then they are not included if they take any additional Academic, Applied General, or Tech Level qualifications. Students who have only been in their school for a year, must have been entered in three A Levels to be included.
The following table summarises which qualifications are included in this measure:
|
Qualification |
Included in the AAB measure (of which at least two are in facilitating subjects)? |
|---|---|
|
GCE A Level |
Yes (except General Studies and Critical Thinking) |
|
GCE AS Level |
No |
|
Applied GCE AS Level Double Award |
No |
|
Applied GCE Single Award |
No |
|
Applied GCE AS Level |
No |
|
Applied GCE Double Award |
No |
Calculations
There are three percentages that are calculated in the KS5 Headlines report that relate to those students who have achieved at least AAB in their A Levels. Select each percentage below to find out more, and to see how it is calculated:
% Students included in AAB (Students in AAB cohort)
This measure indicates the percentage of those students included in the AAB measure as a subset of those students who are eligible for inclusion in the performance tables. The number of students included in the AAB measure is firstly divided by the total number of students who are eligible for inclusion in the performance tables. This value is then multiplied by 100 to give a percentage.
|
% Students included in AAB = (Number of students included in the AAB measure ÷ Number of students who are eligible for inclusion) x 100 |
For example, if 80 students are included in the AAB measure from a group of 90 students eligible for inclusion:
% Students Included in AAB = (80 ÷ 90) x 100 = 88.9% (to 1 decimal place)
% Students achieving AAB Including 2 Facilitating
This measure indicates the percentage of those students who have achieved the AAB including at least 2 Facilitating Subjects measure as a subset of those students who are included in the AAB measure. The number of students included in the AAB measure including at least 2 Facilitating Subjects is firstly divided by the total number of students included in the AAB measure. This value is then multiplied by 100 to give a percentage.
|
% Students achieving AAB including 2 facilitating = (Number of students included in the AAB measure including at least 2 Facilitating Subjects ÷ Number of students included in the AAB measure) x 100 |
Continuing from the previous example, of the 80 students who are included in the AAB measure, 32 have achieved the AAB measure including 2 facilitating subjects:
% Students achieving AAB inc 2 facilitating = (32 ÷ 80) x 100 = 40% (to 1 decimal place)
% Students achieving AAB Including 3 Facilitating
This measure indicates the percentage of those students who have achieved the AAB including at least 3 Facilitating Subjects measure as a subset of those students who are included in the AAB measure. The number of students included in the AAB measure including at least 3 Facilitating Subjects is firstly divided by the total number of students included in the AAB measure. This value is then multiplied by 100 to give a percentage.
|
% Students achieving AAB including 3 facilitating = (Number of students included in the AAB measure including at least 3 Facilitating Subjects ÷ Number of students included in the AAB measure) x 100 |
Again continuing from the previous example, of the 80 students who are included in the AAB measure, 7 have achieved the AAB measure including 3 facilitating subjects:
% Students achieving AAB inc 3 facilitating = (7 ÷ 80) x 100 = 8.8% (to 1 decimal place)
DfE Guidance
For further information about the AAB Measure, please take a look at the DfE's Technical Guide on page 36:
- DfE's 16 to 18 accountability measures: technical guidance (see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/16-to-19-accountability-headline-measures-technical-guide).
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