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Original poster

Check the data for your childs school - find the hidden truth

56 replies

riddlesgalore · 27/02/2013 17:48

You might like to ask questions based on DFE performance data:
www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/

Particularly the average point scores percentage of GCSE only entries against all (including equivalents).

Also Ofsted's Data Dashboard:

dashboard.ofsted.gov.uk/

You may find it interesting to compare schools against the bench marks you think important. Also remember to check the courses entered at GCSE and A Level to ascertain if the academy/school is guilty of any league table manipulation at the expense of attaining pupils full potential.

I think you will find it very interesting.

OP posts:
potatoprinter · 28/02/2013 07:06

The simple truth is that most schools have a range of abilities and unless they are super selective they are not going to have uniformly high marks. Some human beings have less academic ability than others. My Child's school are open about the fact that some do GCSE and some BTEC etc.
my elder Child attends a super selective where most people get a straight sweep of A or A* - the schools cater for different abilities - so what - it is no mystery.

ClutchMyPearls · 27/02/2013 21:32

You do realise stats from these tables are bandied about quite regularly on the Education boards?

Or is there secretly coded info within them that is hidden? In some sort of invisible screen ink, perhaps?

balia · 27/02/2013 21:00

Did you mean to sound quite so mad conspiracy-theory-spotting paranoid? Sometimes, entering children for non-GCSE courses is to do with what is best for the child, or to do with the vocational course the child wants to go onto. There are some teachers who didn't go into teaching just to manipulate league tables, amazing as that may seem in patronising crazy world

Also, word to the wise - you may want to check the dictionary definition of 'interesting'.

I always think the Value added scores are much more enlightening - then you can see which schools actually move kids on, whatever their starting points, and which really don't help students attain their true potential but get good A*-C figures because the children arrive with high levels.

LadyIsabellaWrotham · 27/02/2013 20:44

It's not hidden very well is it? On the OFSTED and education.gov websites is not exactly Dan Brown levels of mystery.

BoundandRebound · 27/02/2013 20:20

What truth is hidden?

lljkk · 27/02/2013 19:47

Pretty boring, no surprises.