How should I use school league tables?
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Top School Guide compiles the most up to date and comprehensive exam league tables for British independent schools.
But how can you use private school league tables in your search for the best school? Here are a few tips to help you focus on what’s important:
1) What is the history of school league tables?
League tables were introduced by the British government in 1992. The plan was to measure each school’s attainment and progress, with underperforming schools facing greater scrutiny and intervention.
Basically, the purpose was to measure performance in order to improve it.
What was the consequence for independent schools?
The introduction of school league tables saw independent schools’ exam results exposed for the first time. Intended or not, this seems to have super-charged ambition and diversity in the British private school sector. Essentially, schools have had to up their exam-game considerably: Fee-paying parents expect results.
By 2022, the national average for GCSE results (% of entries at A*/A or 7,8,9) was 26%. For independent schools, the figure was 70.6%.
Increased academic streaming, increased choice
However, it is incorrect to assume that all independent schools achieve high academic results.
Back in 1992, independent schools could get away with being all things to all people. The introduction of publicly scrutinised exam results has led to increased market segmentation.
Independent schools have become increasingly differentiated. Notably, schools at the top of the league tables are extremely academic. Other schools, however, have recognised the demand for schools to support students who are less academically competitive.
Some schools have popped up which specialise in the intensive improvement of international students’ English language skills. Others might specialise in science, music or performing arts.
Of course, a good few schools still try to be all things for all people, but the trend since the introduction of league tables has been for schools to forge a more defined market position and brand.
The good news for parents and students is that this brings much greater clarity about what each school offers – and genuine choice.
2) Which school league tables should I use?
Top School Guide currently publishes over 25 different independent school league tables. The purpose is to help families compare oranges with oranges.
Providing you have prioritised what kind of independent school you’re looking for, you should be able to identify the most relevant league table. For example:
Age: If you are looking for a senior education (age 11 or 13 to 16) then GCSE league tables are most relevant. For sixth form (age 16-18) focus on A-level, BTEC, or IB Diploma results.
Gender: Simple. Look for either co-ed, boys’, or girls’ school league tables.
Curriculum: Your choice will depend on age and personal preference. Again, look for tables by GCSE, A-level, BTEC, IB Diploma or Scottish curriculums. Check out the Top School Guide Curriculum guide if you need further information.
Location: If you are looking within a particular area, use the regional league tables.
Subject: This is most relevant for sixth form (age 16+) students who are now ready to streamline their studies and focus on Maths, Sciences or Humanities.
3) Are school league tables useful?
Undoubtedly standards have risen. The influence of league tables has also helped diversify what’s on offer. As schools have focussed more on their USPs, it has become easier for families to differentiate and find schools with the most appropriate provision for their young person.
For you as a parent, exam result league tables are an interesting and useful starting point to gauge what kind of “academic level” school you should be aiming at. It is a deliberate oversimplification but, if your young person is an A* student, then their academic “Goldilocks zone” will likely be in one of the higher-ranked schools.
Maximising a young person’s academic potential will always be a key factor which motivates parents to invest in an independent education. So league tables can be a useful indicator as you begin to narrow down your requirements and identify suitable schools.
4) What are the limitations of school league tables?
There are plenty of objections about independent school league tables – most from schools themselves! Some of these are moral objections, whilst others question the validity of the tables. Here are some of the criticisms.
Whole person education
Perhaps the biggest objection that educators have to league tables is that grades on a piece of paper do not reflect the true quality of an education.
Independent schools in particular talk about the importance of educating the “whole person.” They are referring to the moral, social and personal development of a young person. Schools believe it is more important to develop mindset, behaviours and character traits such as creativity, leadership and collaborative skills, communication, critical thinking, problem solving and resilience.
The best education focusses on people over numbers.
Academic selection
You will not be surprised that the top-ranked schools are oversubscribed and academically selective.
Complete the following: If a school only enrols A* students, it’s most likely to produce exam results. (2 points.)
Value-added
And what about those schools who take on students who struggle with academics and exams? They might boost their students’ grades from Ds to Bs. This in turn can exponentially boost a student’s self-esteem and confidence. These schools truly turn lives around, but are unlikely to feature near the top of traditional league tables.
If your young person is not currently at the level required to get into an academically-selective school, you will be better looking at the value-added league table. This reveals the schools which help students achieve the most improvement.
It’s just an average
Millfield School is a huge school of C1300 students including over 900 boarders. It is non-selective and strives to provide the best, personalised education to every single student – regardless of their academic ability.
It does not feature in either the Top 100 A-level Boarding Schools table or the Top 100 GCSE Boarding Schools table as it’s average results are too low.
However, if we only used the results from Millfield’s top 100 students in 2022, it would come in at 26th on the GCSE boarding table with 84.1%, and 14th on the A-level boarding table with 77.5%.
This illustrates why average grades can be so misleading.
It’s just a snapshot
Of course, many of the same schools feature at the top of the league tables each and every year. These are established, academically-elite, A* power-houses.
Most other schools’ exam results bounce around each and every year, influenced by a plethora of variables. There is no indication of the school’s exam result trajectory.
Most importantly, it’s very easy to ignore that a school’s 2023 A-level results will have very little bearing on your young person’s A-level results in 2030.
Manipulation by schools
Some schools game the system to manipulate their academic results. Aside from being cynical, such practices can be potentially detrimental to the students they are supposed to serve.
Tactics can include:
- Preventing underperforming students from taking exams.
- Registering underperforming student to take exams at alternative exam centres.
- Moving students onto alternative curriculums (BTECs, international foundation programmes).
- Including eye-rolling results (e.g Chinese A-levels sat by Chinese students).
- Reducing the range of GCSE/A-level subjects on offer.
5) How should I use school league tables?
Use independent school league tables as a general guide. Use them as a starting point to identify which schools are around the kind of “academic level” that will suit your young person.
Create a longlist of schools and then start to filter schools with a more holistic approach.
Top School Guide’s application guides at ages 13+ and 16+ can help, as can our Ultimate Boarding School and Dyslexic School guides. These take you on a step-by-step process through all the considerations you should make when identifying the best independent schools for your family.
Top School Guide can help you
In addition to guides and league tables, you can also use Top School Guide’s school filter to find schools which match your young person’s current academic level, age of entrance, preferred curriculum and more.
Examine each school’s profile in more detail and create a shortlist. When you submit this to Top School Guide we’ll get in touch to arrange a time to chat through your options and answer your questions.
Let us know however we can help with your British independent school queries.
