How to use the tool

Our research has shown that many high performing schools take in fewer disadvantaged pupils than live in their catchment area.

Explore our interactive map to see how rates of Free School Meal eligibility in schools compare to their local areas.

 

  • Display the data on an individual school by hovering over the dot.
  • Filter using various options including school name, school type, Free School Meal (FSM) rate category, FSM gap category, Attainment 8 performance and Progress 8 performance. The grammar filter can be changed to include grammar schools. Use the dropdowns to view specific categories you are interested in.
  • Search for a school by entering a name in the ‘School name’ box.
  • The colour of the school’s marker reflects their FSM gap with their catchment. Shades of teal represent ‘positive gaps’, i.e. they take more FSM pupils than live in their catchment area. Shades of red/pink represent ‘negative gaps’, i.e. they take fewer FSM pupils than live in their catchment area.
  • **Note: For best results this map is better viewed on desktop rather than mobile**

Notes:

  • FSM Gap refers to the difference between the FSM rate of a school’s intake and the FSM rate of its catchment area.
    • A positive FSM gap (displayed in teal) indicates the school’s FSM rate is greater than the FSM rate of its catchment area. A negative FSM gap (displayed in pink and red) indicates the school’s FSM rate is lower than the FSM rate of its catchment area.
  • Time period: Data on Free School Meal rates in intakes and catchments are based on three school years (2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22), to compensate for year on year variation. Performance measures are based on Key Stage 4 results in 2021/22.
  • Schools included: This tool focuses on mainstream state comprehensives in England. Grammar schools can be added if required using a filter. Independent schools, special schools, alternative provision establishments, FE colleges and studio schools are omitted. Only schools which had Key Stage 4 data in the 2021/22 academic year are included. This means more recently established schools are excluded, as well as middle schools which don’t have Key Stage 4 cohorts.
  • Missing data: where schools or catchment areas had less than 10 FSM pupils, data was suppressed to mitigate the risk of disclosure. As a consequence data from some schools is flagged as unavailable on the map.
  • Catchment areas: Approximate ‘catchment areas’ are created using the location of the pupils who attended a school over a three-year period (2019-2022). A full explanation of the methodology is included here.

 

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