School' experience of league tables should make doctors think again
A letter in this week's BMJ reports on the dysfunctional effects of league tables in education and suggests that these effects may apply to some of the issues surrounding league tables in the health sector.
Researchers at the University of Durham surveyed heads and teachers from 54 randomly selected primary schools in England (with league tables) and Scotland (without league tables). Not surprisingly they found that, compared with Scottish schools, English schools were more likely to concentrate on meeting their targets at the expense of other important objectives, that target setting had a narrowing effect on the curriculum and had increased the "blame culture."
What is surprising, say the authors, was the substantially greater degree of dysfunction reported in English schools than in Scottish schools, although schools in both countries seemed to be under similar pressure to meet targets. This suggests that having league tables does not necessarily apply greater pressure than other less public techniques, they add.
These findings should give pause for thought, say the authors, and they warn that careful consideration should be given to the unintended consequences of league tables.
Contact:
Andy Wiggins (Peter Tymms), University of Durham, UK
Email: andy.wiggins@durham.ac.uk