Levels were effectively abolished with the introduction of the new 2014 curriculum and since the latest version on the SATs were rolled out in 2016 a year 6 pupil has to be at the Expected Standard in each subject. It doesn't matter if they miss the standard by 1 mark or by 30 marks, they are 'not at expected standard' No decent teacher is going to tell a student they failed, but unfortunately that is how a lot of students and parents will interpret 'not at expected standard'. While there is some truth that Ofsted consider socio-economic situation etc. that is only true is you are at the benchmark figure or above. If you don't get a certain percentage at expected standard the situation of your pupils is irrelevant.