Northern and ‘underperforming’ schools penalised by progress 8, research shows

More details about pupils’ backgrounds should be taken into consideration when compiling secondary school league tables in England, new research claims. The study found that a fifth of schools would see their national league table position change by over 500 places if factors such as eligibility for free meals, residential deprivation and whether English is a first language were to be considered.

The researchers, from the Centre for Multilevel Modelling at Bristol University, claim that schools should be judged on a more contextual Progress 8 measure that considers factors other than academic progress that can play a part in school achievement. With such a change, 51% of schools currently judged to be ‘underperforming’ against standard accountability measures would move out of this category.

"The high-average Progress 8 score seen in London halves when we adjust for pupil background," the report says. "In contrast, the low-average Progress 8 score seen in the north-east improves substantially after adjustment, due to the high proportion of poor pupils taught in this region."

The Department for Education says that Progress 8, as it currently is assessed, is a fair measure that helps parents to chose schools. They assert that the measure helps to recognise schools that make good progress with lower attaining pupils, and to identify schools not doing enough with high-performing students.

Half of ‘underperforming’ schools do better when progress 8 includes pupil background (Schools Week) Pupil background 'should be part of league tables' (BBC) More than half of 'underperforming' schools would improve if pupil backgrounds were considered, study finds (The Independent) Northern schools 'penalised by Progress 8 tables' (TES)

Why should this matter to me?

This report reinforces the fact that there is a great deal of grey area when identifying ‘good’ and ‘bad’ secondary schools. With parents becoming more aware of the use and limitations of measures such as Progress 8, it may be that schools would benefit from highlighting other strengths, such as a clear focus on careers or cutting-edge support for SEND students.