Ministers have been urged to make clear whether or not an “absurd” plan to base league tables on faculty attendance this 12 months goes forward regardless of school rooms being closed once more.
In December, the Division for Schooling introduced that exams outcomes wouldn’t be included in league tables. As an alternative, efficiency tables would come with data for folks corresponding to topics taken, pupil locations and attendance information.
The colleges going through the most important challenges are those that have gotten that divide most marked
However the authorities wouldn’t affirm whether or not the plan to incorporate attendance will now change with faculties partially closed since January.
A DfE spokesperson mentioned: “We will likely be speaking to varsities and schools concerning the implications of how faculties will likely be held to account for his or her efficiency within the present educational 12 months within the absence of exams and can set out extra data sooner or later.”
Paul Whiteman, normal secretary of colleges leaders’ union NAHT, mentioned attendance information would solely point out “how onerous a college has been hit by the pandemic”, one thing that has been exterior faculties’ management. “Clearly it might be absurd to make use of it to evaluate faculty efficiency,” he added.
Loic Menzies
The federal government has already needed to scrap different proposals introduced on the similar time – together with a plan to reintroduce on-site Ofsted inspections.
Loic Menzies, chief government of the Centre for Schooling and Youth, mentioned it might be “inappropriate” to make use of attendance as a broadcast headline determine.
He added: “The colleges going through the most important challenges are those that have gotten that divide most marked, so you will be punishing faculties for having a tough job to do.”
Nonetheless, he acknowledged that the DfE was in a troublesome state of affairs because the sector wanted some details about what faculties have been doing this 12 months.