School Performance: How Headteachers Respond to Measurement (Centre for Market and Public Organisation Bulletin, Winter 2005)

Behavoural implications: Because of the complexity of the measurement system, parents fixate on %5A*-C. As a result head teachers fixate on this measure, in their roles as marketers of their schools. Resources are then targetted on borderline C-D students. They feel that more complex, value-added measures will not replace the simpler result measure in the minds of parents. Also worth noting that heads are not using the externally reported measures internally – bit of a disconnect.

Private schools say league tables create fear of failure (PF 2/5/08)

Negative behavioural consequences of PM schemes. E.g. tendency to be risk averse. Some pupils were prevented from taking part in extra-curricular activities for fear of harming exam results. Eton College and St. Pauls have refused to submit their results in future.