Shropshire schools face league tables slide
Shropshire schools could put in a stronger-than-usual performance in next year's league tables due to a change in the way they are calculated.
However, a quirk of the criteria could see the county fall down the table in the years that follow, according to experts.
A study by data analysts Education Datalab identified Shropshire as one of 20 authorities across the UK which will find it difficult to improve its results under the new criteria.
Under the present regime, schools have been ranked according to the number of pupils achieving five GCSEs at grades A*-C, the equivalent of O-level passes.
However, from next year they will be judged across eight specified subjects, and all grades will be taken into account, with eight points being awarded for each A* grade, and a single point being awarded for a G-grade.
It means less significance will be attached to attaining grade-C "passes", but the criteria will place an emphasis on the more traditional subjects.
The eight subjects must include English and maths, and three from a choice of science, computer science, geography or languages. The remaining three can be in any subject.
Rebecca Allen, of Education Datalab, said this year Shropshire schools are likely to perform well as most of its schools already focus on these subjects.
However, she said in the long term it will be more difficult to maintain progress, as other authorities which have in the past placed less emphasis on these subjects will adapt to the new rules.
She added: "This will allow those that are currently poorly performing with pupils completing fewer GCSEs to make rapid improvements in their performance simply by 'filling the entry slots'.
"However those schools in Shropshire that are already performing well and enter their students in a high number of subjects will find it harder to progress."
Shropshire Council's cabinet member for education, Councillor Ann Hartley, said headteachers were aware of the new measures and would be taking appropriate steps to ensure sustained high performance.
"The local authority is supporting them to ensure consistently good or better provision and outcomes for their pupils and expects all schools to continue to perform highly relative to national averages and expectations," she added.
