The Relevance of Performance Tables in English Primary Schools

The publication of school performance tables has been well publiscised and the edition concerning 2010 has been available for a little while. The relevancy for secondary eduction relates to examination results at what is now called GCSE and equivalent which is generally at the age of 16, together with Key Stage 5 which is commonly referred to as A Levels at age 18. These two performance quotes are therefore relevant for academically capable children, and generally those schools which are selective in the students that enrol achieve higher percentages.

However, what should also be looked at is the results published at Key Stage 2 which is at Year 2 in Primary school. Again the results are dependent upon the general capability of the children in each year. Therefore, if a particular year has a higher than normal number of children with a statement of special education needs and that if there is an environment where children are not encouraged in their learning outside of school hours then it has to be recognised that teachers can only do so much to ensure that the relative streams of capability are challenged to the extent that shows progress. Maybe it needs to be recognised that the first 2 years of a child's life are the most important in terms of brain development and forming the basic bedrock for life and if this is not stimulated correctly then the early years is a case of trying to catch up which is not easy.

Therefore it really needs to be pointed out that these results need to be taken with a pinch of salt. My partner is a governor at our primary school which I see is really challenging our children and that they are taking up that challenge and also to enjoy education and life at school. In comparison to my early school years, the amount of home learning they have for spelling, reading and mathematics is amazing and therefore with this set curriculum you have to appreciate the work that teachers put into all of this and the amount of appraisal and reporting directly with parents on a regular basis that takes place. Yet if someone was to look at the performance tables for this school you could well be worried, which you should not be.

So do you rely on the the Ofsted report instead. Possibly but again it is very checklist tick box oriented but they do not tell you about that. Again comparing the primary school our children now attend with a previous one, and find that both are equated at very similar levels. My own opinion is that they are poles apart but this qualitative approach is not understood or undertaken in a review that does not give a complete view of the school's outlook and approach to the education of the children who are their students.

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