VALUE ADDED TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Introduction

Value added is a measure of the progress pupils make between different stages of education. This document explains how value added has been calculated for each pupil and then aggregated to give a score for the school. In order to calculate this we use a median line approach whereby the value added score for each pupil is the difference (positive or negative) between their own 'output' point score and the median - or middle - output point score achieved by others with the same or similar starting point, or 'input' point score. In this way an individual pupil's progress is compared with the progress made by other pupils with the same or similar prior attainment.

There are two separate value added calculations, based on individual pupil value added scores, for each measure published this year; one for mainstream schools and one for special schools. These measures show how schools have helped pupils at the end of Key Stage 4, on roll at their school progress since taking their Key Stage 2 tests (KS2 to KS4 value added measure) and since taking their Key Stage 3 tests (KS3 to KS4 value added measure).

It also describes the calculation of the school's capped average point score and the contextual information shown with the value added measure.

Pupils included

The KS2 to KS4 value added measure is based on the results achieved by pupils:

• who were at the end of KS4 (i.e. Year 11) at the beginning of the 2004/2005 school year
• were on the school roll on 20 January 2005; and
• for whom we were able to match prior attainment in KS2 tests.

The KS3 to KS4 value added measure is based on the results achieved by pupils:

• who were at the end of KS4 (i.e. Year 11) at the beginning of the 2004/2005 school year
• were on the school roll on 20 January 2005; and
• for whom we were able to match prior attainment in KS3 tests.

The following paragraphs explain how the KS2 to KS4 value added measure is calculated. The methodology used to calculate the KS2 to KS4 and KS3 to KS4 value added measures is the same, although the input measure for the KS3 to KS4 value added measure would be based on the KS3 test results and its corresponding point scores as outlined in the tables that follow.

Input measure (Key Stage 2)

The input measure for each pupil is calculated as the average point score achieved in the English, mathematics and science KS2 test results. For example, the average point score for a pupil, achieving test levels 3, 3 and 4 in English, mathematics and science respectively would be:

(21 + 21 + 27) / 3 = 23

If any KS2 results for a pupil are disregarded, the input measure is calculated as the average of the remaining one or two results.

Output measure (results for pupils at the end of KS4)

The output measure for each pupil is capped at a pupil's best eight GCSE (and equivalent) qualifications.

Calculation of a pupil's value added score

The pupil's value added score is based on comparing their exam performance with the median exam performance of other pupils with the same or similar prior attainment at Key Stage 2. The median value is the middle value - with half of the pupils having a capped point score at or below the median, and half at or above.

The graphs below give the pattern of median capped point scores for pupils at the end of KS4 across the range of Key Stage 2 point scores nationally - joining the medians gives the 'national median line'. There are two graphs: one shows median scores for mainstream schools and the other shows median scores for pupils in special schools only.

The national KS2 to KS4 median scores are shown in the tables below. Table A lists median scores for pupils in mainstream schools and Table B lists median scores for pupils in special schools.

The national KS3 to KS4 median scores are also shown. Table C lists median scores for pupils in mainstream schools and Table D lists median scores for pupils in special schools.

Table A: Mainstream schools

>Table B: Special schools

Table C: Mainstream schools

Table D: Special schools

Calculation of a school's value added measure

A school's value added measure is a simple average (arithmetic mean) of the value added scores for all pupils in the school. In the following example, a mainstream school has 4 pupils eligible for inclusion in the value added measure with Key Stage 2 and GCSE (and equivalent) average point scores as shown.

The school's value added score will be presented as a measure based around 1000. This is done by adding 1000 to the score. The school in the above example would be shown as: 1012.0

Calculation of a school's coverage percentage

This shows, the proportion of pupils included in the KS2 to KS4 value added calculation. For example, if a school had 10 pupils at the end of KS4 on roll but only 6 of them were included in the value added measure, then the actual number of pupils included in the value added score would be 6. The coverage in this example would be:

(6 / 10) * 10 = 60%

A value added measure has not been published for schools with less than 50% coverage.

Average number of qualifications taken by pupils in the value added calculation

This shows the average number of approved qualifications taken by each pupil included in the value added calculation. It has been calculated by dividing the total number of examinations taken by each pupil by the number of pupils included in the calculation. The total number of examinations has been determined using the equivalence between a GCSE and other qualifications.

For example, a school has 10 pupils who are included in the calculation and the number of examinations taken by each of the pupils is as follows:

The calculation in this example for the average number of GCSE (and equivalent) examination taken by pupils would be:

(8 + 9 + 10 + 6 + 8 + 8.5 + 8 + 10 + 9.5 + 4.5) / 10 = 8.15

This would be rounded to 8.2 using normal rounding conventions.

National value added score

For statistical reasons, the average value added of all schools nationally is not necessarily exactly 1000. Therefore, to avoid misunderstanding by those who are unfamiliar with value added we have not published a national value added in the Tables. The national KS2 to KS4 value added measure is 989.1 and the national KS3 to KS4 value added measure is 992.9.

Allocation of point scores for prior attainment

The following tables show how points are allocated to pupils' KS2 and KS3 results.

Key Stage 2 test results: Allocation of point scores

Key Stage 3 test results: Allocation of points

* Please note that E (exceptional performance) was withdrawn from 2003, therefore this point score will only be appropriate for prior Key Stage 3 attainment prior to 2003.

** Disregarded means these results will not contribute towards the average point scores per pupil for value added purposes.

Calculation of capped point score

The Achievement and Attainment Tables includes all approved qualifications in Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2, and AS levels taken early. A capped point score is calculated, at the best 8 GCSEs or equivalent. The following three steps (and examples below) describe this procedure:

Step One (see Example 1.0)

Qualifications are compared to the size of a GCSE to determine a volume indicator (i.e. how many GCSEs is a qualification worth). For example, a GCSE in vocational subjects (Double Award) is twice the size of a GCSE so would have a volume indicator of 2.0, a short course GCSE would be 0.5.

Example 1.0 - Pupil results

Step Two (see Example 1.1)

The total points value for each qualification is divided by the volume indicator to arrive at a standardised points figure. For example, a GCSE in vocational subjects (Double Award) at grade B has 92 points. To arrive at the standardised points figure, we would divide 92 points by the GCSE Double Award volume indicator of 2.0 (i.e. 92 divided by 2.0 = 46). The standardised points are 46.

Qualifications are then sorted in descending order based on their standardised points.

Example 1.1 - Pupil results in descending order

Step Three (see Example 1.2)

Once qualifications are ranked, the volume indicators should be summed until a cap of 8.0 is reached. The total points for qualifications included in the cap should then be summed to arrive at the capped point score.

N.B. The process allows for fractions of qualifications to be included in the cap should a particular qualification extend beyond the cap.

Example 1.2 - Pupil results capped at 8

The total capped point score becomes (58 + 26 + 92 + 40 + 119 = 335).

* Only an additional 3.5 is needed to reach the cap of 8.0 (i.e. 70% of this qualification is required). Therefore only 70% of the points for that qualification will be included in the capped point score.