‘Making BIG data, manageable and visually appealing is the current hot topic. In the past week, whilst preparing my ‘Making data meaningful’ guide, I have had the time to get stuck into three BIG data, education data, visualisations or guides.
School Data Dashboard
The School Data Dashboard provides a high level summary of each school’s performance data. The data are presented in a simple, accessible way to ensure that users do not require an in-depth knowledge of school statistics to use it.
What type of information is covered in the School Data Dashboard? Data are provided for Key Stages 1, 2 and 4. Measures include:
- percentage of pupils reaching the expected level in key subjects (English, reading, writing, mathematics)
- percentage of pupils attaining GCSE grades A* to C in key subjects (English, mathematics, science)
- percentage of pupils making expected progress in English and mathematics
- overall attendance at the school (percentage)
- closing the gap measures (these measures look at the attainment and expected progress of disadvantaged pupils compared with other pupils).
Perhaps the most interesting component is the ability to compare schools to its own group of similar schools. These are defined as schools whose pupils arrived with a similar average level of prior attainment; for Key Stage 4 secondary schools this will be the Key Stage 2 tests and assessments (though not other contextual factors such as deprivation or levels of special educational needs).
Take the hint from the availability of this data that ‘closing the gap‘ will be a key focus for 2013-14.
FFT Governors Dashboard
Aimed specifically at governors (and senior leadership teams), the dashboard provides an introduction to overall school performance and context.
It is similar information as that presented in School Data Dashboard, with additional focus areas of interest and a broader curriculum focus. Whilst aimed at governors and senior leadership teams, IMHO it would be a very useful document to share with Middle Leaders and interested teachers too.
Data View
Data View compares regional and local performance of schools, further education and childcare providers, specifically Ofsted inspections over a number of years. Refining the information by:
- time periods covered
- remit, provider and provision types
- location
- deprivation
- places/learner numbers.
Now parents, governors and the wider community have the information at the click of a mouse.
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