For better or worse, league tables shape our education system. Those who argue for better, speak of transparency and choice. Those who argue for worse, speak of the distorting effects of narrow quantitative measures.
One aspect of the tables that is clear, however, is that, to date, they have belonged to government. They are imposed upon schools in order to direct and shape their behaviour. The stakes attached to performance in the tables are high, make or break in many instances.
The effect of these incentives has been embraced by politicians in recent years, using the tables to implement specific policy objectives.
On the one hand, politicians praise autonomy, courage and independence; on the other, you lose your job unless you follow the dictates of the tables. We have seen this with the EBacc. We have seen it with the exclusion of IGCSEs. And we have seen it with first entry rather than best entry. All at very short notice.
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