Introduced in 1992, school league tables had the purpose to inform parents about attendance rates and pass-rates in public exams. The Labour party wanted to give the parents the possibility to see the difference between the schools and to assess their choices realistically. The school league tables include data about achievement and attainment from different sources, for example the Sats, the GCSE and the A-Level qualifications. School league tables can give snapshot of the average attainment in exams, depending on the measure used to draw it up. But it is not always easy to interpret the available data.
Table of Contents
- What are league tables?
- What information do they include and how are they drawn up?
- Arguments for school league tables
- Arguments against school league tables
- Future of the school league tables
Objectives and Key Themes
This academic essay aims to provide an overview of school league tables in England, examining their composition, advantages, and disadvantages. It also offers a perspective on their potential future development.
- Definition and composition of school league tables
- Arguments for and against the use of league tables
- Data sources and methodologies used in creating league tables
- Variations in league table construction and interpretation
- Future prospects and potential changes to league tables
Chapter Summaries
What are league tables?: This chapter introduces the concept of school league tables, tracing their origins in the early 1990s and their initial purpose of informing parents about school performance. It highlights the increased availability of school achievement data compared to previous decades and emphasizes the ongoing debate surrounding their value and interpretation. The chapter lays the groundwork for the subsequent analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of these tables.
What information do they include and how are they drawn up?: This section delves into the specific data included in school league tables, such as Key Stage 2 tests, GCSE, AS, and A-Level results. It highlights the inconsistencies in how different newspapers and organizations compile and present these data, leading to varying interpretations and rankings. The chapter emphasizes the complexities involved in creating league tables and the lack of a standardized methodology, resulting in different perspectives on school performance. The use of different metrics, such as percentage of A or B grades versus average point scores, is discussed as a source of potential bias and misinterpretations. The inclusion (or exclusion) of “General Studies” A-level results is presented as a further example of the inconsistencies.
Keywords
School league tables, educational assessment, examination results, GCSE, A-Level, data interpretation, educational policy, parental choice, school ranking, standardized testing, achievement, attainment.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of School League Tables
What is this document about?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of an academic essay examining school league tables in England. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The focus is on the creation, use, advantages, disadvantages, and potential future of these league tables.
What are school league tables?
School league tables are rankings of schools based on student performance data, typically examination results such as Key Stage 2 tests, GCSEs, AS-levels, and A-levels. They originated in the early 1990s with the aim of informing parents about school performance. However, their value and interpretation remain a subject of ongoing debate.
What information do school league tables include?
League tables typically include data on student achievement in various examinations. However, the specific data included and how it's presented varies significantly between different newspapers and organizations. This includes differences in metrics used (e.g., percentage of A or B grades versus average point scores) and the inclusion or exclusion of certain subjects (e.g., General Studies A-level results), leading to inconsistencies in rankings and interpretations.
How are school league tables drawn up?
The methods used to create school league tables are not standardized. Different organizations employ different methodologies and data selection criteria, leading to variations in the final rankings. The lack of a consistent approach contributes to the difficulties in comparing and interpreting the results across different publications and organizations. The complexities involved in creating a fair and accurate representation of school performance are highlighted.
What are the arguments for using school league tables?
This information is not explicitly detailed in the preview but implied as a key theme of the full essay. The preview suggests that the initial purpose was to inform parents' choices about schools.
What are the arguments against using school league tables?
This information is not explicitly detailed in the preview but implied as a key theme of the full essay. The inconsistencies in data compilation and interpretation, as well as the potential for bias, are highlighted as points of critique in the preview.
What is the future of school league tables?
This is presented as a key theme for discussion within the full essay. The preview suggests an exploration of potential changes and developments in how these tables are constructed and used.
What are the key themes explored in the essay?
Key themes include the definition and composition of school league tables, arguments for and against their use, the data sources and methodologies employed in their creation, variations in construction and interpretation, and their future prospects.
What keywords are associated with this topic?
Keywords include: School league tables, educational assessment, examination results, GCSE, A-Level, data interpretation, educational policy, parental choice, school ranking, standardized testing, achievement, attainment.
- Arbeit zitieren
- B.A. Stefan Groitl (Autor:in), 2011, School League Tables - Advantages, Disadvantages and the Future Development, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/181628
