What is it?
Student Performance Analysis (SPA) is a service for schools, providing value-added analysis of
GCSE and / or A level results. Short course GCSEs and GNVQ results can be included within
the analysis. Examination results are related to prior indicator data and performance
measures are given for the school, subject department and individual pupils.
Background
Developed in partnership with schools in the South-west of England since 1990 it is now
used by schools in many parts of the UK and in New Zealand. This service is fast, cost
effective, illuminating and practical. It provides the information schools and colleges
need to help monitor their effectiveness.
Within the UK, with the increasing emphasis on performance management, performance related
pay, school funding based upon performance, and the explicit references to value-added
examination performance in the application form for teachers to advance through the pay
threshold, analysis of this sort is essential for schools.
SPA offers?
Detailed information on a school cohort's performance at the level of individual pupils, subject
groups, gender groups and the year group as a whole. Comparative data from other schools provided
in the form of graphs and tables is useful for benchmarking. Indicative grades for a range of subjects,
useful for target setting, are provided. SPA also offers specific information on cross-school
subject department performance, including subject group prior ability and subject syllabus followed.
What do you get for your money?
This analysis service has been available since 1990. It is swift, cost effective and very illuminating.
If results are submitted promptly during the school holidays then every attempt will be made to get
the initial analysis back to you by the start of term. This comprises a large folder with the
analyses shown in these web pages, including separate sheets for each subject department.
If you are interested in using this service, or finding out more about it, then please read the other
pages available on our website.
The pages detailing the national examination statistics
over recent years are particularly useful for comparing against your own results.
For those of you interested in researching this area there is a useful
reading list with which to start your studies.
Brian Stubbs