Far from giving primary parents greater insight, “value-added scores” increase the potential for deceit. Many schools manipulate value-added scores through keeping key stage 1 test results low and KS2 results high; consequently Year 6 pupils have the responsibility of determining a school’s reputation. Those working below the level 4 threshold are increasingly an unwelcome burden.
Primary education under the influence of league tables has become less child focused and more business driven, a parody of the education values New Labour is reported to have.
Nick Wigmore 21 Heatherbank Todmorden, Lancashire
