Madam, – A new league table, (Home News, August 6th), claims to give a more balanced view by taking into account the social background of the schools. However the researchers introduce a geographical bias by giving three points for each student progressing to UCD or TCD, compared with two points or one for each student going on to “other” universities or colleges. It is no surprise that the resulting league table shows that 22 out of the supposed top 25 feeder schools in Ireland are located in Dublin.
Apart from this issue, school league tables are fundamentally misguided. They assess performance of schools on the points their students attain and on their progression to third-level colleges. They ignore the many other aims of education, aims which are mostly given lip service only.
Could someone develop a league table which takes into account the many other important factors in a student’s development – social development, maturity, ability to distinguish between truth and lies when listening to politicians, a social conscience, self- belief? The list is endless – showing the futility of developing league tables to measure a school’s performance. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – At last, as reported on August 6th, we have a league table of schools that takes into account the socio-economic background of the school and students.
This is a very welcome development and I find it very refreshing that Prof Vani K Borooah says what many educationalists and others have been saying for years, that “some schools can’t help but be successful, their circumstances are so good. Others will not perform no matter how great the effort because their circumstances are so bad”.
However, one thing puzzles me about this research, as reported. What was the rationale for assigning three points to a school for each student sent to UCD or TCD and only two points to those who went to other universities (not to mention the denigration of all other third-level institutions by assigning just one point for each student who progressed to one of these)?
In these circumstances it is hardly surprising that all but three of the top 25 schools listed are actually in south Dublin.
Incredible though it may seem, students from other areas may actually prefer to go to a more local university! – Yours, etc,