Overview

This article explains how you can compare pupil attainment in a subject for different contextual groups, 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 attainment differences between the following groups:

You can use this information to inform your planning and the provision of interventions. For example, you can compare the attainment and gaps between different contextual groups. You can also drill down to see how individual pupils are performing within each contextual group. 

Instructions

Follow these instructions to compare different contextual groups:

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 those Characteristics you don't want to include in the report.
   2. Check those Characteristics you want to include in the report.
   3. Select Characteristic Groups to expand, for example, Ethnicity.
   4. Check the Characteristics in the sub-group that you want to include in the report.

Outcome

The report is displayed based on your selections (in this example, the Primary version of the report is shown, but the EYFS report works in the same way):

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

2. Select a Characteristic, to view the individual names of the pupils in each of the ARE bandings:

   

3. 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.
• Sonar Tracker: How do I compare attainment with gender?
• Sonar Tracker: How do I compare attainment with attendance?
• Sonar Tracker: How do I compare attainment with ethnicity?

Training

Updated 03 September 2025 15:28