Absolute vs relative assessment data - Insight Inform Teacher assessment data tends to fall into one of two camps: absolute and relative. James Pembroke considers the issues which arise when attempts are made to combine the two types of data, and suggests an approach which schools might take.

*NEW POST* Absolute vs Relative Assessment. www.insightinform.co.uk/2026/04/10/a...

Amazing couple of days walking coast path in North Cornwall

Absolute vs relative assessment data - Insight Inform Teacher assessment data tends to fall into one of two camps: absolute and relative. James Pembroke considers the issues which arise when attempts are made to combine the two types of data, and suggests an approach which schools might take.

*NEW POST* Absolute vs Relative Assessment. www.insightinform.co.uk/2026/04/10/a...

Pleased to see that the confusing multi year and individual year bar charts have been ditched in the IDSR. New format is much clearer.

It’s the best war. The best. People say to me, how did you make such a beautiful war? They love it. It’s very complete now and it will be over very soon. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe in two weeks.

If you’re an @insighthq.bsky.social user, you can book a consultancy call Mon-Thurs mornings to discuss assessment data and how to make best use of the system. Popular topics include SEND, EYFS, standardised tests, and progress. Book via Insight help menu (Insight Inform surgery)

Done

Ran a couple of Databusters’ sessions last night. It was great to be back in a room spreading the message about effective and proportionate use of school data. If you’re interested in organising an event in your area, please get in touch.

Beige buffet guaranteed.

🥪

Databusting Surrey with The Educakers A practical one-day workshop for primary and MAT senior leaders on making assessment and data work in practice, without adding to workload.

We're really excited to announce that @insighthq.bsky.social @jpembroke.bsky.social @richardselfridge.bsky.social will be running their 'Databusting Surrey with the Educakers' event with us in June.

Have a look at the link below for more information.

We'd love to meet so many of you in person!

DfE set to ditch 'average' labels for school progress scores Government also fleshes out plans for additional progress score for low prior attaining pupils

Schools will no longer be publicly compared to the national 'average' for their progress scores in a proposed overhaul of government league tables

schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-wants-to-ditch-avera...

Consultation closes in May so feasible they could implement changes by December when tables are published but 2027 more likely 🤷‍♂️. That would affect final KS1-2 progress cohort consult.education.gov.uk/school-accou...

Oh, I see. You mean this year and next. Doubt anything will happen that quickly.

Yes. Same proposal: bands based on rank rather than confidence intervals.

DfE set to ditch 'average' labels for school progress scores Government also fleshes out plans for additional progress score for low prior attaining pupils

Thanks @richardselfridge.bsky.social for sending this. Proposed change to DfE performance bands, away from confidence interval-based approach to a simpler quintile method. Whether it gives useful info is another matter schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-wants-to...

They could use the new GLD report but without the approach applied to other results (standard deviations and confidence intervals) they’re not making fair comparisons.

But no comparison yet so not sure how they’re making these judgements

Expected Standard descriptor for Early Years, p60 of Ofsted Toolkit.

In absence of EYFSP data in IDSR and without any statistical analysis of outcomes, how do inspectors judge if GLD is ‘broadly in line with national averages’?

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/690b26...

That’s a very tough 3 minutes mind

It’s a reduced version of the real thing. They should introduce a 2 day ski mountaineering event into the high Alps requiring competitors to dig a snow hole for the night.

Nordic combined is the Winter Olympics equivalent of key cutting and shoe repair.

Join @jpembroke.bsky.social and me as we look under the hood of the IDSR in the latest Insight Inform podcast.

www.insightinform.co.uk/podcast/

Please listen, comment and repost!

They should also consider adding the number of pupils to the results section of the report card for all schools. Without the actual numbers, the percentages are meaningless. Any more than 6 pupils and it’s published. Gap data especially problematic. www.insightinform.co.uk/2026/02/05/p...

Ofsted reviews data shown in special school report cards New reports currently compare metrics like capacity of special schools to other schools in their phase

Ofsted is considering removing national data comparators for special schools from its report cards, following concerns that labelling them 'well below average' for pupil numbers could confuse and mislead parents

schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-reviews-data-show...

Definitely. Pace not that far off pre-injury, last April, which is nice.

*DATABUSTERS LIVE*

Join us in beautiful Derbyshire. Details below.

Just started running again after ankle surgery in August. Limited to flat runs on tarmac - no off-road/hills for a while - but nice to be back on my feet.

The bloke who played DCI Ted Roach in The Bill once filled my bed with balloons.

I completely agree.

The idea that the PM could be brought down by this. Meanwhile, across the pond, nothing to see here.