School performance tables have become such a central part of the education system it is hard to imagine a world without them. However, league tables did not materialise until the early 1990s. Well into the 80s the school system was seen by many as a ‘secret garden’ in which outcomes were neither measured nor communicated. Fast-forward to 2015, and anyone with an internet connection and a copy of Excel can compare school performance in forensic detail.
As part of this guide to the new KS4 and 16-18 headline measures for Schools Week, put together by my colleagues at LKMco, I briefly chart the birth and development of the school league table, and reflect on the significance of this 40-year journey.
You can download the guide here.