What is the value of league tables? I am the headmaster of a fine independent school, but I am sceptical.

I listen to those who insist that they offer transparency, but I ask how this is possible when there is so much scope for conflicting interpretation.

For instance, last year my school, Ardingly College, was placed seventh in the UK in The Independent newspaper, which used UCAS points per candidate; we were placed 193rd in the Daily Telegraph, while in The Times we were in the IB-only table – unfortunate, since half our sixth form study for A-levels. We were not even included in the FT schools’ tables because we were wrongly listed as a league table rebel.

This year, our cohort of A-level students achieved well but many of our top students chose to study the International Baccalaureate. Theirs was a record set of results in a qualification that is, without doubt, a gold standard.

It allows universities to differentiate and select the highest achievers. It is not subject to Government interference or to grade inflation. Some of our IB students achieved top marks in seven subjects, rather than the required six, and gained 50 points, instead of the theoretical maximum of 45, but the seventh subject will not be counted in the league tables because such information is not considered valid. Yet students who complete four, five or six A-levels do have their grades included.

At GCSE, too, there is league table obfuscation. We offer the international IGCSEs in some subjects and we know that when the tables are published we will be down in comparison to schools that do not teach the IGCSE because IGCSEs are not recognised by the Government.

How, then, can beleaguered parents make meaningful year-on-year comparisons between schools that offer different qualifications?

PRA Green, MA
Headmaster,
Ardingly College
West Sussex