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The usual prompt (sic) publication of school statistical data is almost upon us. But what should we be looking for with all of the interactive data?
There are 3 basic things that OFSTED inspectors and School Improvement Partners (SIPs) look for in school data:
Although the first thing we all tend to notice are the blue or green boxes that shout at us SIG+ or SIG-, This doesn’t actually tell us much at all - only that with some statistical certainty that the school CVA is in the top 25%, bottom 25% or the middle 50% of schools nationally. The actual % of schools with attainment that is SIG+ is about 33%. This leaves us with a key question: So what?
It is the educational importance that is much more valuable. Just because something is significant doesn’t mean it is IMPORTANT. At KS1 an Average point score of 2 points above or below the national APS shows either exceptionally high or exceptionally low attainment. At KS2 it is 2.5 points. For CVA at KS2, 101.5 shows exceptionally high CVA, whilst 98.5 shows exceptionally low CVA.
Variation is also highly important. We need to look at differences in ATTAINMENT and CVA between groups of children. Whilst differences in attainment between SEN and other children are understandable, careful thought needs to be given to other groups showing differences. CVA should not be noticeably different for any group of children.