Education in South East, United Kingdom: official figures
62% of pupils finishing primary school in the South East met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25, 4th highest result of 9 English regions (England 63%).
What percentage pass GCSE English and maths in the South East?
By age 19, 75.2% of young people from the South East had passed GCSEs (or equivalent) in both English and maths in 2024/25, compared with 73.2% across England; that ranks 2nd of 9.
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyHow qualified are adults in the South East?
70.2% of working-age adults (16 to 64) in the South East held a Level 3 qualification (A level or equivalent) or higher in 2023, while 5.1% had no qualifications at all (2nd highest Level 3 rate of 9 regions; England 67.4%).
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyHow ready are children for school in the South East?
82.5% of five-year-olds in the South East reached the expected level in communication and language at the end of reception in 2024/25 (England 79.5%).
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyHow many pupils miss school in the South East?
17.8% of pupils in state-funded schools in the South East were persistently absent, missing at least 10% of sessions, in 2024/25 (4th lowest rate of 9 regions); among pupils on free school meals the rate was 35.3%.
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyHow many apprenticeships are there in the South East?
The South East recorded 929 apprenticeship starts and 4,552 adult further-education learners per 100,000 people in 2024/25 (England 959 and 5,174).
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyHow South East compares with other region of Englands
Pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at key stage 2 (2024/25)
South East ranks 4 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.
| Rank | Region | Pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at key stage 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | 71% |
| 2 | North East | 63% |
| 3 | West Midlands | 62% |
| 4 | South East | 62% |
| 5 | North West | 61% |
| 6 | Yorkshire and the Humber | 61% |
| 7 | East Midlands | 61% |
GCSE English and maths by age 19 (2024/25)
South East ranks 2 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.
| Rank | Region | GCSE English and maths by age 19 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | 77.6% |
| 2 | South East | 75.2% |
| 3 | East of England | 73.9% |
| 4 | South West | 73.4% |
| 5 | East Midlands | 71.6% |
| 6 | North West | 71.1% |
| 7 | Yorkshire and the Humber | 70.8% |
Adults 16 to 64 with Level 3 or higher qualifications (2023)
South East ranks 2 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.
| Rank | Region | Adults 16 to 64 with Level 3 or higher qualifications |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | 74.9% |
| 2 | South East | 70.2% |
| 3 | South West | 68.2% |
| 4 | North West | 65.8% |
| 5 | Yorkshire and the Humber | 64.8% |
| 6 | East of England | 64.7% |
| 7 | West Midlands | 63.6% |
Pupils persistently absent (2024/25)
South East ranks 6 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.
| Rank | Region | Pupils persistently absent |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | West Midlands | 18.9% |
| 4 | South West | 18.3% |
| 5 | North West | 18.3% |
| 6 | South East | 17.8% |
| 7 | London | 17.5% |
| 8 | East of England | 17.5% |
| 9 | East Midlands | 17.3% |
Adults aged 16 to 64 with Level 3 or higher qualifications (%) (2023)
South East ranks 3 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults aged 16 to 64 with Level 3 or higher qualifications (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | 74.9% |
| 2 | Scotland | 73.7% |
| 3 | South East | 70.2% |
| 4 | South West | 68.2% |
| 5 | North West | 65.8% |
| 6 | Yorkshire and the Humber | 64.8% |
| 7 | East of England | 64.7% |
Adults aged 16 to 64 with no qualifications (%) (2023)
South East ranks 11 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults aged 16 to 64 with no qualifications (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Yorkshire and the Humber | 7.6% |
| 7 | West Midlands | 7.3% |
| 8 | North West | 6.7% |
| 9 | East of England | 5.3% |
| 10 | London | 5.2% |
| 11 | South East | 5.1% |
| 12 | South West | 5.1% |
Public spending on education per head (£) (2024-25)
South East ranks 11 of 12, highest first. Identifiable public expenditure on education, Country and Regional Analysis
| Rank | Region | Public spending on education per head (£) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | North East | £1,766 |
| 7 | Yorkshire and the Humber | £1,737 |
| 8 | East of England | £1,713 |
| 9 | East Midlands | £1,705 |
| 10 | North West | £1,657 |
| 11 | South East | £1,630 |
| 12 | South West | £1,585 |
More on South East: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · the United Kingdom
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Explore Local Statistics: all datasets (116 indicators for UK local areas, regions and nations), spreadsheet generated 22 October 2026, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ae2f3a7b3960…)
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