Schools achieving higher GCSE scores than might be expected from pupils’ home backgrounds and attainments at transfer are found to have:
* high expectations * strong academic emphasis * shared vision and goals * clear leadership from heads * clear leadership from heads of department * an effective senior management team * consistency in approach * high quality teaching * a student centred approach * parental involvement and support Adapted from Accounting for variations in academic effectiveness between schools and departments by Pam Sammons, Sally Thomas and Peter Mortimore.
