1. The Learner Achievement Tracker (LAT)
Analysing the Reports
for
School Improvement
Ben Fuller
Assessment Adviser, Standards & School Effectiveness
January 2006

2. What is the Learner Achievement Tracker?
Developed to coincide with the New Measures of Success – part of ‘Success for All’
Four partners: LSC, DfES, ALI, OFSTED
‘Basket’ of measures to contextualise performance of all providers of post-16 education
Application across the post-16 sector
No additional bureaucratic burden
LAT will be accessed through the Provider Quality Gateway at

3. LAT Output reports Type of LAT report What the report shows
Summary Charts
(VA and DT)
Overview of performance across different
qualifications and across different subjects
within a given qualification type compared to
the national average
National comparisons
graph
Performance in a given qualification/subject
compared to the national average across
the full range of prior attainment
National chances charts
Chances of a learner with a given prior
attainment achieving a particular outcome

4. Value Added and Distance Travelled for 16 – 19 learners
Measures the progression in qualifications of learners based on their prior attainment
ie, how well do learners achieve post-16, based on their achievement at Key Stage 4?
Covers the majority of larger, approved qualifications taken by learners, including vocational and ungraded qualifications

5. Value Added and Distance Travelled for 16 – 19 learners
VA for learners will measure achievement in Level 3
graded qualifications, for example:
GCE A and AS level
AVCE
BTEC National Diploma
DT for learners will include other approved
qualifications at levels 1, 2 and 3 for example:
NVQ
Foundation and Intermediate GNVQ
GCSE

6. VA and DT data
Data used to calculate the VA and DT for 16 – 19 learners is gained directly from the the awarding bodies
VA score is average difference (in QCA points) between students’ results and national averages for each level of prior attainment
Providers will not be involved in collecting data for the measure
Providers check the accuracy of the data in the usual way (LAT first view based on unvalidated data, then amended later)

7. Summary Charts of VA and DT (institution-level data)
LAT Output Reports
Summary Charts of VA and DT
(institution-level data)

8. Summary Charts VA
Shows the VA scores for each qualification type and an overall institutional VA score
For each qualification type, a chart shows the VA
scores for each subject (provided >4 students)
Page 17 of the Quality Improvement Pack DT
Shows the DT scores for each qualification type
For each qualification type, a chart shows the DT scores for each subject group (provided >4 students)
Page 30 of the Quality Improvement Pack

9. Example of a Value Added Summary Across Qualifications
Significant when shaded grey.

10. Example of a Value Added Summary within Qualification Type
95%

11. Application of the Value Added Summary Charts
First indication of performance across the full range of prior attainment
Identifies strengths and areas for improvement
(LAs and Inspectors) - a view of which schools/ institutions are performing better/worse than national average (given prior attainment)

12. Key Questions
Are there types of course/qualification in which performance has been particularly strong or weak?
Are there particular subjects in which performance has been particularly strong or weak?
Given their prior attainment, are learners being matched appropriately to programmes of learning?

13. 2. National Comparison Graphs (VA)
LAT Output Reports
2. National Comparison Graphs (VA)
(pupil level data)

14. National Comparison Graphs
Show the performance of the provider in a given qualification compared to the national performance in the same qualification across the full range of prior attainment
For example, NVQ Level 3 in construction or A Level History
Pages 21 and 34 of the Quality Improvement Pack

15. Example of a Value Added National Comparisons Graph
School’s line of best-fit and shaded area (confidence interval) is entirely below national line – therefore significantly below at all levels of prior attainment.
95%
Fail
Pass

16. Interpretation of VA lines
Provider sig. above national.

17. Interpretation of VA lines
Provider not sig above naional.

18. Interpretation of VA lines
Provider sig. below national.

19. Interpretation of VA lines
Provider sig. below national.
Provider not sig below.

20. Interpretation of VA lines
Provider sig above national for students with higher prior attainment, but sig below for lower PA.

21. Interpretation of VA lines
Not sig.

22. National Comparison Graph (Distance Travelled)

23. Application of the Value Added
National Comparisons Graph
Are learners at this institution making better or worse progress than would be expected when compared to the national picture?
Do learners with a given prior attainment (for example a low or high prior attainment) make better or worse progress than expected?
Have any learners achieved higher or lower than expected?
What levels of achievement/target grades can be expected from current cohort of learners given prior attainment?

24. 3. National Chances Charts
LAT Output Reports
3. National Chances Charts

25. National Chances Charts
Show the chances of a learner with a given prior attainment achieving a particular outcome in a given qualification at a nationally average institution
For example, the chances of a learner with a given prior attainment achieving grades A – E in A Level History or achieving a Level 1, 2 or 3 NVQ in construction
Pages 27 and 40 of the Quality Improvement Pack

26. Example of a Value Added National Chances Chart
(Fails not included)
% based on nat. data for the chosen PA band.

27. Application of the Value Added National Chances Chart
VA chances charts can be used to support learner progress by helping:
Target setting
To monitor learner progress
To identify where support is required
To identify appropriate courses for individual learners

28. Issues for further exploration
Learners with missing or no prior attainment
Context variables
Customising the LAT
Treatment of AS levels in the VA measure
Treatment of fails in the VA measure
Use of success rate for DT

29. Further Information
The Quality Improvement Pack contains detailed information about the interpretation and application of each type of LAT reports
- ‘Measuring Success’ newsletters downloadable