RM Data Solutions has managed the annual production of the performance tables for the DCSF since 1994. Each year RM Data Solutions processes data for 2.5m pupils that is collected, matched and processed from 22,000 schools and 150 awarding bodies.
The 2007 performance tables for Key Stage 2 (Primary Schools) and for Key Stages 4 and 5 (including GCSE and A-level qualifications) have now been published and can be accessed from the DCSF website. The sophisticated indicators calculated by RM Data Solutions show real improvement.
Improvement at Key stage 2
The school-by-school test results in this year's primary league tables (Key stage 2) for England show a general improvement. A total of 255 schools had the maximum combined score of 300 in the English, maths and science "Sats" tests taken by 11-year-olds, up from 209 last year.
New Measures
This year a new "contextual" value added (CVA) measure – calculated along with other indicators by RM Data Solutions, was applied to primary schools. It sets pupils' progress in the context of their background circumstances, factoring in such things as poverty and ethnicity.
Progress at Key stage 4
There was also good achievements at Key stage 4 at mainstream schools with 46.7% of pupils achieving five good GCSEs with English and maths. This compared to 61.1% at independent schools and 42.4% at community schools.
There was considerable success this year in lifting schools above the government's floor target of 30% of pupils getting five good GCSEs including English and maths. The number of schools was significantly reduced from 789 in 2006 to 639 schools in 2007. Ministers say many more are on the verge of surpassing the standard.
Continuing trend
Schools Minister Andrew Adonis paid tribute to pupils and teachers and said standards "have never been higher".
"But we are far from complacent and know there is more to do to ensure that every pupil has the opportunity to reach their full potential and we have a world class system everywhere," he said.
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