Overview

This article explains how you can compare pupil attainment based on different ethnicities, using the relevant Characteristic Attainment Overview report (either the EYFS Characteristic Attainment Overview Report or the Primary Characteristic Attainment Overview Report). The report lets you view performance differences between pupils from various ethnic groups (based on DfE groupings), which you can use to inform your planning and the provision of interventions. For example, if you notice an attainment gap between White - English and Not White - English, you can use this information to consider how you could change what you're teaching / how you are teaching to close the gap between the two ethnic groups. 

Instructions

Follow these instructions to compare pupil attainment based on different ethnicities:

Open the relevant Characteristic Attainment Overview Report

1. Select Reports.
2. Locate and select either the EYFS Characteristic Attainment Overview Report or the Primary Characteristic Attainment Overview Report based on your requirements.
3. When Select Pupils opens:
   
   1. Select Year Group and /or a Class.
   2. Select Load Report. 

Configure the report

From the appropriate Characteristic Attainment Overview Report:

1. Select the Academic Year and Assessment Period (by default, the current one is selected).
2. Select a Subject to display.
3. Select Characteristics (labelled 37 Selected by default):
   
4. From the Characteristics menu:
   
   1. Uncheck all Characteristics, except for Ethnicity.
   2. Select Ethnicity to expand.
   3. Check the Ethnicities that you want to include in the report, for example, White - English and Not White - English. It is good practise to include Information Not Yet Obtained.

Outcome

The report automatically updates based on the filters selected (in this example, the Primary version of the report is shown, but the EYFS report works in exactly the same way):

Roll over a Characteristic, select and then drag and drop the Characteristic, to rearrange the order of the rows in the table as required. 

Select a Characteristic to view the names of the pupils in the ethnic group:

To export the data, expand the Data Table, and select Export CSV:

Related information

• Sonar Tracker: EYFS Characteristic Attainment Overview Report.
• Sonar Tracker: Primary Characteristic Attainment Overview Report.

Training

Updated 03 September 2025 15:28