VALUE ADDED

While it is clear from raw test results if pupils are achieving above or below the expected level, it is not obvious which schools have helped pupils to make more progress from one stage of their education to the next. The progress schools help individuals to make relative to their different starting points is usually referred to as value added. Value added measures are intended to allow comparisons between schools with different pupil intakes.

For example, it is possible to measure the progress from KS1 to KS2 made by pupils, relative to other pupils, by comparing their KS2 achievement with the achievements of other pupils nationally with the same KS1 results. Pupils attending school 'A' may achieve results in KS2 tests above the expected level while pupils at school 'B' achieve below, but in value added terms the pupils at school 'B' may have made more progress than other pupils relative to their KS1 starting point and, therefore, have a higher value added 'measure'.

The matching of test results for individual pupils across the different years requires accurate date of birth information. Comprehensive, consistent dates of birth for KS1 and KS2 have only been available since 1998 which is, therefore, the earliest baseline for our value added measure. We intend to develop value added across all key stages as data becomes available after first running a pilot to test methodology and presentation. The broad timetable is as follows:

The Department provided the participating schools with the results of their pupils' KS2 tests which they took in May 2002. These form the 'output' measure or finishing point for the value added calculation. Details of their KS1 test results that form the 'input' measure or starting point of the value added calculation were also provided. The schools were asked to check the KS2 results and that they matched with the correct prior KS1 results for each pupil.