Value Added in SIMS

[BKGarry]

To All,

 

has anyone manage to successfully get SIMS to do the Value Added data for students, I can get it to go KS2 to KS3 with our own Aspects (but that is because it is the same grade set i suspect) but when I do from KS2 to KS4 (GCSE/BTEC) it says everyone should get an A* (we are not the local grammar school here)

 

does this need to be achieved by making all the grade set numbers line up with a common score system?

 

I think I may need to go on a SIMS performance analysis training course from our LEA but this is really bugging me.

 

Any ideas here would be great

[vikpaw]

It depends how you're working out Value Added and your underlying gradesets. David Pott has a blog post about doing this, and it relied on lots of formulae in columns to change the data around.

If you're using a simple rule e.g. go up two grades, or gain x points, then you should be able to set up the mapping yourself. What is the value you expect to add? You shouldn't need to align the grade sets so long as within themselves they are linear.

[BKGarry]

I think they are on expected levels of progress, I will check with the Assistant Head Teacher who is currently crunching all of them in excel (this guy is my line manager and always wants to use excel over SIMS)

 

I will see what I can do mapping wise, as everytime I go to read the manual it kind of sends me to sleep :-)

[number34]

This whole topic is a mine field as you need to have good data on all of the KS2 results as a start. There are also the low, middle and high attainer groups that have to be considered as well. As Vik says it is possible to do all of this in SIMs but I would advise getting some training. Here the LA provide none but I have had been on a lot of excellent Capita courses that have given me the confidence to try to get to grips with this.

[BKGarry]

does seem interesting how much of a minefield this is, it is one of those lovely government measurements, may stick with the excel method. allthough @vikpaw the blog was excellent for getting the right values in my gradeset.

[NormalDistribution]

The Govt. have recently said this:

 

The Secretary of State also announced proposed changes to performance measures. It is proposed that two new measures be introduced:

• the percentage of pupils in each school reaching an attainment threshold in the vital core subjects of English and maths;
  
• an average point score showing how much progress every student makes between Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 4.
  

 

The average point score will look at achievement across a range of eight subjects. As well as English and maths, it will measure how well pupils perform in at least three subjects from the English Baccalaureate – sciences, history, geography, languages – and Computer Science, and in three additional subjects, whether those are arts subjects, academic subjects or high quality vocational qualifications.

 

 

Now this sounds awfully like current like value-added with a tweak to ensure the desired subjects are included. But you never know - they might do something else with it. I'm just saying I wouldn't currently invest lots of time getting current VA methodology off the ground if they are going to change it.