Evaluation of the cost of grade repetition

To measure the cost of grade repetition at school, we must first estimate its impact on pupils’ educational trajectories (their duration and nature). To this end, it is necessary to track the entire school career of a cohort of pupils. The report draws on comprehensive administrative data provided by the Directorate for Evaluation, Performance and Forward Planning (DEPP). This data enables us to track the educational careers of all pupils born in 1992 up to the 2011–2012 academic year.
This data reveals well-known characteristics of grade repetition. Firstly, by the end of their schooling, 48 per cent of pupils had fallen at least one year behind, and the average number of years of grade repetition was 0.60 years. Secondly, on average, pupils who have undergone grade repetition are more often than other pupils male, from a socio-economically
disadvantaged background and have a low academic level. Thirdly, pupils who have undergone grade repetition: a) are more likely than other pupils to choose the Vocational track/path rather than general and technological education after Year 9; b) achieve a lower level of secondary education than pupils who have not undergone Grade repetition; c) have a longer average duration of study than other pupils.