It bands pupils into groups based on their scores in English and mathematics during the Key Stage 2 SATs.
In GCSE results, six EBacc subjects are chosen, in addition to English and Maths, and each grade is converted to points on an arbitrary scale published by the government for that cohort.
Referring to the introduction of the new Progress 8 measure in a speech in January 2015, she said: “No longer will it be the case that the only pupils that matter will be those on the C/D borderline.
Some have argued that teachers as skilled professionals should not see their commitment and competence subject to market forces which narrow the meaning of education to examination results.
[7] Students who are absent or even have been off-roll for a considerable time also adversely distort the figures, and this will be more significant with schools in difficult areas or with a larger number of less able children.
The 2018 league tables are to be published with two Progress 8 results, one as in previous years and one with a negative outliers adjustment.