Value added graphs

Value added graphs show the value added for each pupil and enable this to be compared with value added figures nationally.

In this example, Pupil 1 has gained a level four in her national tests, while Pupil 2 gained a few more marks and achieved a level five. Pupil 1 also had a lower prior attainment than Pupil 2; pupils to the right of the graph are those who were higher attaining at the start.

The national median line depicts the middle score achieved by pupils nationally.

The graph on the right shows that Pupil 1 has made more progress than pupils with the same prior attainment did on average across the country. Pupil 2, however, has not made less progress.

If we now plot the rest of the girls' class on the same graph to view the completed value added graph, we can see that Pupil 2's progress was fairly typical of others in the school with the same starting point.