Today's publication of school performance tables kicks off the annual row over league tables. Education Correspondent MATTHEW NIXSON reports.

Government performance tables published today see a handful of borough schools among the best in the country.

High-flying schools such as Henrietta Barnett, Queen Elizabeth's Boys and St Michael's Catholic Grammar retained top placings.

Critics point to their ability to select pupils by ability as a natural advantage. But Dr John Marincowitz, headmaster of Queen Elizabeth's School in Queen's Road, Barnet, says getting rid of selection would set leading schools back by ten years.

"The notion that redistributing a few bright pupils among schools will raise academic performance is fundamentally flawed," he said. "A few children don't raise standards, good educational development does."

Other top of the table schools saw a slight dip in this year's figures, lending weight to claims that results may have peaked following a raft of government initiatives.

Lynn Gadd, headteacher of Copthall School in Pursley Road, Mill Hill, believes league tables ramp up competitive pressure in a system where almost every school was already being pushed to its maximum potential. Copthall which saw the number of pupils achieving five A* to C grades at GCSE drop six per cent was now subject to vagaries of intake, she said.

"It really isn't the case that there is a massive potential that we're not tapping the kids are being targeted, tested, mentored," she said. "Differences now will be in the nature of intake and the difference between one year group and another: one group may not be quite as able or as focused."

In August Mrs Gadd was among headteachers warning of "ridiculously high expectations" of young people when it came to exams. This week she suggested league tables had outlived their usefulness.

"I think they have sharpened up some schools that were sitting on their laurels and in that way they have had an interesting effect," she said.

"Now they are not needed, especially as schools can be monitored in a more discreet way. I don't think we need something as publicly damning as league tables to stop schools coasting.

"I think they make parents so desperate to get their kids into certain schools that we perpetuate the system. As a result some schools are able to recruit youngsters with very supportive parents who know the system and how to work it.

"Whilst we get every ounce of results from them, a school like Copthall has, perhaps, more potential for success. Our kids come from settled, middle-class areas on the whole."

Tellingly, some of the borough's poorest performing schools those least popular among parents saw results worsen. Christ Church Secondary in Warnham Road, North Finchley, rounded off an annus horribilis. Hampered by staff shortages and assault allegations later dismissed against its chairman of governors, it saw an eight per cent drop in the number of pupils obtaining five A* to C grade at GCSE.

Ravenscroft School in Barnet Lane, Barnet placed in 'special measures' by schools inspectors in October last year saw the same figure fall two per cent. Just 20 per cent of pupils achieved the magic five GCSEs at A* to C.

Its headteacher, Mary Karaolis, has spoken of her support for value-added league tables. Far less arbitrary than simple exams, they would track improvements as individual youngsters moved through the primary and secondary school systems.

This year saw them published on a trial basis for some 200 schools across the country. However, they remain problematic. For example, a large improvement from key stage two to three (end of primary to third year secondary) can leave a school with little room for progress by key stage four (GCSE). Whether they are brought in more widely in future remains to be seen.

The Edgware School in Green Lane, Edgware, saw its results drop three per cent to 21 per cent scoring five A* to C grades. The Edgware School is in the process of becoming the borough's first City Academy.

Mayfair-based businessman Peter Shalson is investing £1.5million of his own money to become chairman of governors. His vision is for the school to specialise in business, information technology and enterprise training. Currently 40 per cent of pupils are on free school meals, another 40 per cent on the special educational needs register and 55 different are languages spoken. Mr Shalson believes he can harness the school's innate entrepreneurial spirit.

Whitefield School in Claremont Road, Cricklewood, bucked the trend among some of the poorer performing schools. It saw a five per cent increase in students scoring five A* to C grades. However, with last year's figure at just 16 per cent, there was massive room for improvement and it is still in the bottom of the table.

While the debate over league tables and school improvement is set to continue in Barnet as elsewhere, one thing is certain: a balance must be struck.

Mrs Gadd adds: "If you're just chasing league tables you're probably not doing a good job for the kids."

November 21, 2001 11:46