Private schools say league tables create fear of failure

1 May 08
Leading independent schools have joined the chorus of voices criticising school league tables, with two elite schools deciding to opt out of the system.

02 May 2008

Leading independent schools have joined the chorus of voices criticising school league tables, with two elite schools deciding to opt out of the system.

Eton College and St Paul's boys' school in west London revealed that they will refuse to submit their exam results to the Independent Schools Council for publication in August.

At the Boarding Schools Association annual conference in York on April 29, chair Geoffrey Boult said: 'League tables often seem to produce fear of failure, and teachers and pupils can share in this experience.'

The BSA is concerned that the tables present only a narrow picture of school achievements.

Hilary Moriarty, BSA national director, told Public Finance that the emphasis on league tables meant some students were prevented from participating in extra-curricular activities for fear that they would perform poorly in exams and thus jeopardise the school's position in the tables.

'League tables show us one tiny element of schools, blown up out of all proportion and dangerously so. There's more to school than grades: there's education. It would be a disaster if the pressure to perform for the league tables were to destroy it,' she said.

The National Union of Teachers repeated its call for an independent review of the school performance regime. Christine Blower, the union's acting general secretary, said the government was isolated in its determination to keep league tables.

'They are immensely unfair, particularly on schools in the toughest areas,' she said. 'No parent can gain accurate information from league tables. It is common for schools to find themselves at the bottom of league tables yet still get good inspection reports.'

There is also unhappiness in Parliament at the distortions the tables create. The Commons children, schools and families select committee is currently conducting its own inquiry into the testing and assessment regime amid concerns that the focus on school league tables is counter-productive.

But the Department for Children, Schools and Families said transparency and accountability in the schools system were non-negotiable.

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