How do schools measure their own progress?

Contact: Linda Croxford ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )

01/01/2004 - 31/12/2008

Project leaders: Linda Croxford and Mike Cowie

Senior Research Fellow: Joan Stead

This research project is investigating the impact of performance measurement in Scottish schools. It explores how performance measures are used, for what purposes.

A questionnaire was sent to all Education Authorities in Scotland in February 2005, asking about the measurement; analysis of attainment; and school ethos (see Briefing details below).

Case studies in 6 schools (Jan-April 2007) will explore how the use of performance measurement affects policy and practice; issues of teaching and learning; and the experiences of teachers and pupils. Interviews will be with a range of members of the school community. Several local education authority personnel are involved in this project, ensuring that this research is firmly grounded and informed by policy and practice concerns. Local authority colleagues work alongside researchers contributing to the focus and design of the project, and participating in data production.

One AERS Research Fellow is currently attached to this project.

During January-March 2007 the project group (including several local authority personnel) conducted fieldwork in 6 case study schools‚ both primary and secondary in 6 local authorities. We interviewed staff about the ways that performance measures are used by different members of the school community. Interview questions focussed on the use of performance data for informing practice and on the perceived effects of any use of performance data on pupil progress. These data are currently being analysed by the team using NVivo software.  A paper was presented at ECER (European Conference on Educational Research) to be held 17-21 September in Ghent. This paper focused on an analysis of STACS and an initial analysis of the interviews from senior managers in secondary schools.

During 2007 we have published and presented the following:

Publications:

Croxford, L., Cowie, M., & D. Taylor (2007) 'Accountability in Scottish Secondary Schools and the role  of Standard Tables and Charts (STACS): A Critical Appraisal.' Scottish Educational Review Vol39 No1  pp29-50

Cowie, Michael and Linda Croxford 'Intelligent Accountability: Sound-Bite or Sea-Change?'. CES Briefing No43 - June 2007. 

Presentations:

June 6th 'The Pluses and Minuses of Performance Indicators in Scottish Schools', presented at the Pratictioners Forum, St George's School for Girls, Edinburgh.

June 14th 'How do Schools Measure their own Performance?', presented at the SMG Network Dissemination Event, University of Edinburgh.

September 17-21 'How do Schools in Scotland Measure their Progress?', presented at the European Conference on Educational Research (ECER)

Dissemination:

Croxford, L. and M. Cowie (2005) "Accounting for School Performance in Scottish Local Authorities", in CES Briefing, No.37, December

Cowie, Michael and Linda Croxford (2006) "Measuring and monitoring school performance in Scotland", in Education in the North Vol.13, pp.23-36

Taylor, D., Croxford, L., Cowie, M. and T. Bragg (2006) "Intelligent Accountability? What role for standard tables and charts (STACS)?", presented at SERA (Scottish Educational Research Association), held in Perth, George Hotel, on 25^th-27^th November.