School league tables criticised

There have been calls for school league tables to be scrapped, as the latest results have been published.

According to the latest results, 53% of England’s schools performed better, 45% performed worse and 2% stayed the same.

The number of primary schoolchildren who achieved the level 4 standard in English increased to 79%, while the number who achieved the standard in Maths also increased to 75%. The number who achieved the required standard in science remained steady at 86%.

Schools Minister Andrew Adonis said: “The results today show that we are continuing to raise standards in our primary schools.”

However, the headteacher of the school whose results improved the most – Eastborough Junior Infant and Nursery School in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire – called for league tables to be scrapped.

Nicola Roth said although she was “really proud” of her school’s achievement, “lots of other schools have worked really, really hard and will not get the acknowledgement they deserve”. She said: “It would be better if league tables did not exist.”

The Conservatives also criticised the results. Shadow Education Minister Nick Gibb said: “These results confirm yet again that results in English, in primary schools are flat lining.

“We are also concerned that only 57% of primary school pupils are achieving Level 4 in reading, writing and maths. This leaves nearly half of 11-year-olds poorly prepared for secondary school.”

Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Edward Davey called for a review of the whole system of tests and league tables in primary schools. He said: "Despite all the government's talk, the figures show that achievement in Maths and English is still falling short of the their targets. The government criticises schools and teachers who miss targets, but there appear to be no consequences for ministers when they miss theirs.

"Schools are working hard to improve performance yet that's often despite the tables, not because of them.

"Ministers should review the whole system of tests and league tables in primary schools. To complement personalised learning the government should consider personalised testing. Pupils should take tests as soon as they are ready rather than en masse, so they and the school are not held back by a system designed for Whitehall, not pupils and parents."

A spokesperson for the Education Department said that league tables would remain. He said: “Our strategies are about ensuring every school is addressing the basics properly, which many were not before 1998.”

(KMcA/SP)