Here was a school being lauded for a seemingly dramatic improvement in its pupils' exam results.
ARK and Harris schools (the latter sponsored by a carpet magnate) boast about their pupils' exam results just as private schools do.
Another study showed that when teachers focused on their students' learning, the students became more analytical than when the teachers concentrated on their pupils' exam results.
Keith Turvey Senior lecturer, University of Brighton Your article concludes, rightly, with a reference to the decline in foreign language study (Social class affects white pupils' exam results, 3 September).
Its report appears to back claims from headteachers that staff are under excessive stress from the Department for Education to improve pupils' exam grades.
Rogers adds that, with teachers and institutions also judged on pupils' exam grades, poor marking can provoke months of misplaced soul-searching by staff.
The improvements in pupils' exam results that Labour likes to tout have been undermined by both the proliferation of the exams themselves, and the fact that the scores have been devalued by grade inflation.
A survey by Civitas, a think-tank, indicates that many teachers whose performance is also assessed in part by reference to their pupils' exam results—believe the recent improvements are due to resits.
It said giving it to schools irrespective of performance was flawed and called for a portion of the cash to be ring-fenced for schools that boost pupils' exam results and job opportunities.
In other countries, the top of the pay scale is often higher (see chart), but it takes much longer to get there.The government plans to offer teachers the chance to earn, in time, up to £40,000 but only if they pass rigorous appraisals of their performance, in which the improvement in pupils' exam results will be one of the yardsticks.
