School league tables ‘punish and reward’ the wrong secondary schools, says Northern education and business leaders

Secondary schools in Yorkshire and the North of England are being penalised by national league tables that punish schools for teaching pupils from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, the Government has been warned today, Ruth Dacey reports.

A new report has warned that schools in the North would see big improvements in their rankings if government league tables took pupils’ background into account when measuring their progress.

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Special report - Widening education gap

The Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP) has published its second annual ‘Fairer Schools Index’- ranking schools based on an adjusted progress score – which measures factors such the proportion of disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

A new report has today warned that schools in the North would see big improvements in their rankings if government league tables took pupils’ background into account when measuring their progress. Photo credit: PAA new report has today warned that schools in the North would see big improvements in their rankings if government league tables took pupils’ background into account when measuring their progress. Photo credit: PA
A new report has today warned that schools in the North would see big improvements in their rankings if government league tables took pupils’ background into account when measuring their progress. Photo credit: PA
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NPP said much of the attainment gap between pupils in the North and those in London existed because there is such a high proportion of pupils with disadvantaged backgrounds.

Once backgrounds are reflected, many Yorkshire schools in fact outperform those outside the North of England.

Sarah Mulholland, head of policy at the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said: “By ignoring these realities, schools with poorer pupils but which are making real progress will nevertheless be ranked lower than they deserve, and vice versa.

“This will fail to hold to account schools which are under-performing in the context of pupil background, and learning will suffer as a result in wealthier areas both in the North through to the Home Counties.”

Sarah Mulholland, head of policy at the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.Sarah Mulholland, head of policy at the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.
Sarah Mulholland, head of policy at the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.
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A fifth of schools saw their national league table position change by more than 500 places using the adjusted Progress 8 measure.

In Yorkshire schools on average were ranked 109 places higher, with 10 schools across the region moving up by over 1,000 places - one school in Sheffield moved up 1,141 places.

In the North East, schools on average were ranked 361 places higher and 107 places in the North West.

NPP is calling for the ‘Fairer Schools Index’ to be published alongside the current school league tables in order to give a fairer, more accurate picture of school performance by taking into account factors which have a huge impact on education attainment.

Pictured, Henri Murison, director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership. Photo credit: JPIMediaPictured, Henri Murison, director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership. Photo credit: JPIMedia
Pictured, Henri Murison, director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership. Photo credit: JPIMedia
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Henri Murison, director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said an underfunded education system in the North is also set to face further pressure in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, as existing inequalities worsen.

Ahead of the upcoming Spending Review he said sufficient focus and funding should be prioritised to helping children from poorer backgrounds - with a larger proportion in the North.

Mr Murison said: “Schools with high concentrations of the most disadvantaged children, many of which are in the North, are in greater need of support. We need to see the creation of new targeted local opportunity areas and additional funds going to the places that need them most.”

West Yorkshire MP Yvette Cooper said: “Education is vital for Yorkshire’s future. So we need better recognition and better support. The Government should be listening to the Northern Powerhouse Partnership and this important report.”

Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford MP Yvette Cooper. Photo: GettyNormanton, Pontefract and Castleford MP Yvette Cooper. Photo: Getty
Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford MP Yvette Cooper. Photo: Getty
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Fiona Spellman, the chief executive of Northern education charity Shine, added: “Ultimately, without addressing the wider challenges that come from long-term deprivation found in many parts of the north, we can’t hope to close the education disadvantage gap.

“We must use the upcoming spending review to make sure the extra funding coming through due to increasing benefit levels is well targeted to the areas with long term economic issues which have the least resilience to the upcoming economic and resulting social turmoil.”

A special Yorkshire Post report reveals:

- The Northern Powerhouse Partnership’s publication today of its second annual ‘Fairer Schools Index’ and report.

The new index draws on research by the University of Bristol and takes into account factors such as whether pupils are eligible for free school meals, long-term deprivation, ethnicity and gender, to give an adjusted ‘Progress 8’ score.

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Using this adjusted measure, a fifth of schools saw their national league table position change by over 500 places and 46 per cent of schools judged ‘well below average’ and ‘well below average’ under Progress 8 move up out of these bandings.

Fiona Spellman, the chief executive of Northern education charity Shine. Photo credit: JPIMediaFiona Spellman, the chief executive of Northern education charity Shine. Photo credit: JPIMedia
Fiona Spellman, the chief executive of Northern education charity Shine. Photo credit: JPIMedia

The high average Progress 8 score seen in London more than halves when pupil background is taken into account.

Across Yorkshire and the Humber the new average movements saw an increase of 109 places with 10 schools across the region moving up by more than 1,000 places.

The highest pupil premium number in Yorkshire is Sheffield Springs Academy at around 70 per cent compared with the national average of 28 per cent. This school moves up 1,141 places using the adjusted measure to 376th in the country and from “average” according to DfE to “above average” on the adjusted measure.

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Two-thirds of secondary schools teaching concentrations of long-term disadvantaged pupils in the country which make the slowest educational progress are in the North.

There have been concerns that many teaching staff are put off from teaching at schools judged to be low performing according to the government including Ofsted.

The new report, will be put to government, with the recommendation that the 'Fairer Schools Index' be published alongside the current school league tables in order to give a "fairer, more accurate" picture of school performance by taking into account factors which have a huge impact on education attainment.

It also includes the recommendation that Ofsted should be required to use the adjusted measures as part of the evidence used during school inspections. It is anticipated this could help attract and retaining the best teachers.

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