Education

Educational qualifications are a determinant of an individual’s labour market position, which in turn influences income, housing and other material resources which are closely related to health and health inequalities.  Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ Wider Determinants of Health profiles contain a section on education.

Educational attainment in Trafford is higher than the England average. In 2021/22 the mean Attainment 8 score (a measure based upon achievement in 8 GCSE qualifications including English and Maths) is 55.6, the highest in the North West and amongst Trafford’s statistical neighbours, with England having an average score of 48.7 (Wider Determinants of Health, 2021/22).

School readiness, expressed as the proportion achieving a good level of development at the end of Reception, in Trafford (71.6%) is  better than England average (65.2%) (Wider Determinants of Health, 2021/22). However, school readiness for children who are in receipt of free school meals, as a proxy measure of poverty, is similar (47.5%) to the England average (49.1%) and fifth lowest in a group similar local authorities (Wider Determinants of Health, 2021/22).

The proportion of 16-17 year olds who are not in education, employment, or training in Trafford (4.1%) is better than England (4.7%). However, some other similar authorities do better on this indicator.  In Stockport, Trafford’s statistical and geographical neighbour, the percentage is 2.8% and in Warrington, our nearest statistical neighbour, it is also 2.8% (Wider Determinants of Health, 2021).