What does "attainment" measure in the context of education?

In the context of education, "attainment" specifically measures student achievement outcomes. This includes various metrics that reflect how well students have learned and progressed in their education, such as exam scores, grades, and completed qualifications. Attainment provides a clear indication of students' understanding and competency in their subjects, helping educators, policymakers, and stakeholders evaluate the effectiveness of educational strategies and interventions.

Resources available to students, teacher qualifications, and school funding levels are all important factors that can influence educational outcomes but do not directly measure the actual achievement or success of the students themselves. Instead, these factors may contribute to or affect attainment, making it clear that attainment itself is focused solely on student performance metrics.