This report follows on from Ireland’s National Assessments of Mathematics and English Reading 2021: A focus on urban DEIS schools (Nelis & Gilleece, 2023). It is also designed to be read
in conjunction with the National Assessments of Mathematics and English Reading 2021: Performance Report (Kiniry et al., 2023) which provides more detail on the administration of
NAMER ’21 and overall findings for achievement. Further findings from NAMER ’21 including findings related to teaching and assessment practices, pupil characteristics and school factors, will be described in a forthcoming report (Kiniry et al., Report in preparation).

A key purpose of this report is to look at pupil characteristics and school and classroom factors that may be associated with achievement of pupils in Urban DEIS schools. More broadly, analyses
in this report are intended to support policymakers and school communities striving to improve equity in education. NAMER ’21 was administered in Spring 2021. Since then, there have been developments in policy, practice and supports. This report was completed in late 2023 and focuses primarily on findings from NAMER ’21 rather than how findings may link to developments that occurred following the study.