League Tables - what parents should know! Post Reply

[schoolsshow]

Which League Tables?

Tables collecting GCSE results were first introduced in 1994 and they have become a popular tool for comparing schools. However some argue that they have actually caused a lot of agony and misunderstanding, with some top schools are branding them as ‘nonsense’. Clearly league tables have become a thorny topic.

Winners vary according to the source, with every newspaper using a different set of criteria. The tables compiled by the Independent Schools Council and published by The Daily Telegraph are reliable and up-to-date, but some of the top schools boycott this list. The Best Schools list, although a year behind, is comprehensive and includes league tables for IB schools and Scottish Highers. The Guardian tables enable easy comparison between state and independent schools.

Finding the right school and winning places

Things to bear in mind when using the tables to steer your choices:

• The top tier academic schools who religiously feature at the top of these tables are highly selective in their intake.
  
• At the Independent Schools Show the high-performing schools will be on hand, exhibiting and speaking. If your child is highly academic come and find out about the entrance requirements for these institutions.
  
• You might also want to talk to the exhibiting tuition companies; tutoring can seriously improve your child’s chances of gaining entry or winning a scholarship.
  
• Given the high calibre of students these schools appeal to, it is important to ask yourself whether they provide the right environment for your child to learn in. Be realistic about the strengths and weaknesses of your child.
  

If your child is not in the top 5% aged 11 or 13 do not worry. The independent sector has schools which cater for all abilities and attains far better results than the state system. In fact some of the best teaching and the most remarkable results are achieved in schools that are non-selective.Independent Schools Council research shows that:

• More than half of independent school entries are awarded either A* or A grade at A-level.
  
• A typical ISC student achieved 2 A*s and 7 As at GCSE.
  

In fact to properly assess all schools you need to be thinking not just about results, but also about value added.

Come along to the Independent Schools Show  on 10th and 11th November in Battersea Evolution. With over 200 leading schoolsexhibiting, the Show provides parents with the perfect opportunity to talk with admissions staff one-to-one and begin the application process for your child. There will also be two education theatres covering important topics such as understanding league tables to how best to combine state and independent education.

Tickets are FREE to those who register in advance.

#schoolsshow