Continuity of School Effects: A Longitudinal Analysis of Primary and Secondary School Effects on GCSE Performance

Multilevel analyses of students' GCSE examination results (taken at age 16) are used to investigate both primary and secondary school effects on students' total performance scores and the issue of continuity of schools' effects over time. Follow‐up data for the Inner London Education Authority's Junior School Project sample, including attainment at secondary transfer (age 11) and at GCSE and details concerning students' background characteristics are analysed. Significant school effects at both primary and secondary level and small but significant continuing effects of primary schools on later GCSE attainment are identified. The theoretical and practical significance of the results are discussed.