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Original poster

2006 league tables published for primary schools

47 replies

ParanoidSurreyHousewife · 07/12/2006 09:48

Daren't post anything "In the News"! But they're on the BBC news site here .

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Original poster
ParanoidSurreyHousewife · 07/12/2006 10:00

OK - I've now managed to examine all the data for my local schools. As it happens I have did statistics to degree level, so I think that I can interpret the data to some extent - but I'm just wondering how "Joe Average" is meant to use it?

OP posts:
indigNativity · 07/12/2006 10:02

OK Wouldn't call myself Joe average - but did give up on A level maths
What's the point of the VA ?

iota · 07/12/2006 10:04

I've jsut been browsing your link thanks.

speaking as an Arts graduate, may I ask what your conclusions are?

foxinsocks · 07/12/2006 10:06

the point of the VA is, supposedly, to show how the children have improved between key stage 1 (yr2) and key stage 2.

foxinsocks · 07/12/2006 10:08

here's the guide which should explain the different measurements

MistleToo · 07/12/2006 10:09

are you ignoring me?

Original poster
ParanoidSurreyHousewife · 07/12/2006 10:11

I think that I've concluded that I'm mainly interested in APS (this gives me an indication of how many children are achieving Level 5, or at least Level 4 or more). The AGG levels can drop by having just a couple of children who are below average (or even absent I guess) and also can fluctuate wildly. Or at least where I live the very middle class schools don't fluctuate but presumably everyone is on board for SATS, but other schools vary hugely.

The VA number is useful if the school doesns't have great AGG or APS levels, but doesn't tell you as much if they do (well other than I guess you had a good intake in the first place - but I could tell that from the location of the school). Odd that you can search on AGG and VA but not APS though.

OP posts:
Lucycat · 07/12/2006 10:14

as an ex teacher who frowns on these league tables, it's always fun to have a little chuckle when dd's school comes a whole place above the so called 'best' school in the area -

Original poster
ParanoidSurreyHousewife · 07/12/2006 10:22

Jools

OP posts:
KathG · 07/12/2006 10:43

Has anyone found a link that compares across a range of years?

Lucycat · 07/12/2006 11:16

If you click on the individual school and scroll down a bit then it shows the last few year's results.

Is that what you mean?

Glitterygookwithchocsonthetree · 07/12/2006 11:51

PHS - I thought about not being able to sort by APS too. The schools at the top of our borough are much of a muchness anyway but for example, our school has a slightly lower AGG than another but a higher APS. In fact, although there are a few schools above ours, our APS is the highest.

Anyway, I'm not that bothered anymore - mine go there and they are doing fantastically well and are loving it so that's good enough for me.

Glitterygookwithchocsonthetree · 07/12/2006 11:59

Also, just thinking about VA score. Presumably, where attaintment on entry is high anyway, isn't VA going to be lower even if it's a good school and the AGG and APS are good. Isn't the opportunity for improvement less between KS1 and KS2 if results at KS1 are really good?

So many things to consider when looking at these tables really.

Spicedfennelwine · 07/12/2006 12:13

Lucycat, I like those tables too because our old Manchester primary does very well in them, better than the more officially desirable ones do

Our new school doesn't have a score. I hope that doesn't mean they all failed their SATS!

MerryPiffmas · 07/12/2006 12:24

VA around here is horses arse
the best performing primaries get the best 11+ results and SATS results - parents who want grammar entry go for these schools
These primaries are ranked VA below other schools.
Seems bizarre in some ways

Lucycat · 07/12/2006 12:25

fennel is it just an infant school? I can't find the infant school that my friend teaches in either.

or perhaps they did all fall off the bottom of the score chart

Spicedfennelwine · 07/12/2006 12:27

New school was a first school til 2 years ago, now moving towards a full primary. I suppose that's the reason. It's a dinky little village school, like living in toytown

Glitterygookwithchocsonthetree · 07/12/2006 13:00

Ditto piffmas

Glitterygookwithchocsonthetree · 07/12/2006 13:01

But that's kind of what I was asking - if VA is about improvement from KS1 to KS2, then a school that performs extremely well at KS1 doesn't have the capacity to improve as much at KS2 as a school that performs less well at KS1. If that makes any sense!

mummydear · 07/12/2006 13:26

No infant schools in these tables - just primary or junior, not separate infant schools

PartridgeinaRustyBearTree · 07/12/2006 13:30

If there are fewer than 10 in Year 6, they don't publish the results as it would be easy to identify the children

janinlondon · 07/12/2006 15:36

Don't some schools deliberately bomb at KS1? I have a friend who says all the primaries around her do this to get a better VA at KS2? (Though its entirely anecdotal - I have no actual evidence)

Chipstick · 08/12/2006 21:51

Does anybody know when the KS1 results published?

FairyTaleOfNewYork · 08/12/2006 21:57

i have to say, i am glad dd1 moved schools i know she is doing better there, and even tho these tables are reassuring its a good school, tbh it wouldnt actually matter, as i know she is getting the support she needs.

SparklePrincess · 10/12/2006 19:56

Chipstick, they dont publish the KS1 results anymore.