Do DfE performance results indicate schools teaching quality?

[SunnySideDeepDown]

My child is in Y2 at a small village primary school. We have three primary schools within catchment and chose this school mainly based on great (but historic) performance results. Covid limited the up to date information that was available.

I’ve looked at KS2 results from 24/25 and I’m shocked to see it perform much lower than other schools in our LA and nationally when it comes to meeting expected performance across reading maths and writing. Eg LA average is 62%, school is 46%.

Coupled with a fairly new and strange head teacher (in post two years) I’m now questioning if it’s the right school for my kids. My Y2 child is very bright and I’ve been told is on his way to meeting above expected standard. My Reception age child is also showing promise.

I realise they’re averages and the school is small (25 leavers last year), but I think that figure is very low. My kids doing well but for how long?

Do you value the performance data as an indicator of teaching quality?

I couldn't tell you what it is for my kids primary. Assume you're concerned, or you wouldn't be looking?

Do you value the performance data as an indicator of teaching quality?

Simple answer : No.

But apart from anything else, when you have a small cohort like that, you have to remember that every child is worth 4 percentage marks. So, if you have 3 children who struggle with academics, suddenly that is 12%. In a 3 form entry school, the % of the cohort, with the same number of children, would be very different.

All social sciences data is flawed. As pp said, 25 pupils means each child is 4%. If they have a higher than typical number of children with complex learning needs or who just really struggle, they could easily have >50% who didn't have a chance of meeting expected standards even with the best teaching in the world.

I hate how SATs data is used to judge a school. It means that schools focus their efforts on a narrow group of pupils, because they know how important "age related" and "above age related" is to their Ofsted and parental opinions. In the worst cases, this encourages schools to try to move on pupils with complex needs before assessment years, knowing they will have no chance of meeting ARE, no matter how amazing the teaching is.

No

No.

No.

progress shows the teaching quality,

if you have children at the school you should be able to tell yourself.

No. As PPs have explained, small cohorts are particularly skewed.

If it was a pattern of decline each year, especially following changes such as covid and a new headteacher, I would be concerned. If it's just one set of bad results, I'd just assume that was a particularly low attaining year group with high needs. As others have explained, the odd dip can easily be explained away (especially in a small school where each child is worth such a high percentage.

The popular answer is 'no' but the realistic answer is 'kinda'.

The performance tables show only that - the exam performance. What they're not showing (but definitely reflect) is the likely motivations of the parents (i.e. how much they value education) and hence the competition to get in, ambient house prices etc etc.

There's poor teachers and poor teaching in every school but the grim reality is that well-behaved middle-class kids from secure families that value education tend to go to good schools. These schools tend to have good behaviour throughout and this leads to less staff-turnover, a happier environment and better exam results.

There, I said it.