Forums
/ Role / SMT

The difference between attainment and achievement...

Last post 29/01/12 at 23:00 by martalerena1, 19 replies
Post started by loual on 20/11/11 at 20:37

Rate this topic

All Topics
Select colour:
  • loual avatar
    Offline
    1
    Posted by: loual 20/11/2011 at 20:37
    Reply
    Joined on 01/04/2006
    Posts 2
    Please can someone give me a clear description of the difference between attainment and achievement? I cannot seem to get a straight answer from anyone! My understanding is that one is the final outcome eg a C whereas the other is the progress relative to your own starting point eg 1 level or 2 levels...is this correct? and is this achievement or attainment? Thanks
  • CarrieV avatar
    Offline
    2
    Posted by: CarrieV 20/11/2011 at 20:41
    Reply
    Joined on 22/01/2011
    Posts 1,055

    OK, you attain a Level 5

    and you achieve 2 levels progress.

     

    (or is it the other way roundEmbarrassed)

     

    Nope, think that's rightBig Smile

     

     

     

     
  • littlerussell avatar
    Offline
    3
    Posted by: littlerussell 21/11/2011 at 06:33
    Reply
    Joined on 27/06/2004
    Posts 975

    That's what it used to be, until OFSTED decided to redefine the meaning of the word achievement (cos they have the power to do that, you know).

    Attainment - as described above

    Progress is just progress.

    Achievement is an OFSTED judgement which takes into account both attainment and progress.

     
  • MathsHOD avatar
    Offline
    4
    Posted by: MathsHOD 22/11/2011 at 20:31
    Reply
    Joined on 08/02/2007
    Posts 1,534
    Littlerussell is spot on.

    Attainment is 'raw results'

    Progress is progress

    Achievement is the combination judgement that combines the two (largely according to a formula).

    eg. "Significantly above national attainment" + "Good Progress" = "Outstanding Achievement"

  • T34 avatar
    Offline
    5
    Posted by: T34 23/11/2011 at 14:28
    Reply
    Joined on 15/01/2005
    Posts 4,974

     How about

    Attainment is a points score, P

    Achievement is a difference between two points scores, P2 - P1
  • littlerussell avatar
    Offline
    6
    Posted by: littlerussell 23/11/2011 at 19:17
    Reply
    Joined on 27/06/2004
    Posts 975
    Nope. Attainment = P Progress = P2-P1 Achievement = a combination of both, most likely based on the lowest of the two. It used to be T34's version, but OFSTED changed the meaning of the word without telling anyone!
  • watfordgap2 avatar
    Offline
    7
    Posted by: watfordgap2 24/11/2011 at 21:56
    Reply
    Joined on 12/01/2010
    Posts 28
    We have looked into this as a school. It is very confusing. Attainment is raw scores - GCSE results or Levels attained. If you read the inspection schedule, achievement is attainment, adjusted for the prior attainment of the pupils, or in relation to whether they are making the expected rate of progress. It is basically a bit of a fudge. There is no precise definition of achievement like there is for attainment, You should make sure that when the inspectors appear you ask them how they define achievement . Inspectors need to define it precisely, and when they report to you on achievement you must make sure you get them to take you through their reasoning for how they arrived at their judgement. What we mean by achievement - forgetting Ofsted for a moment - is a much broader idea. Achievement should be a range of things that a child gets from their time at a school. It is their whole education. They might have been a prefect, a great athlete, a good musician or public speaker, or got Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. You really must insist that the inspectors look at everything great that the school provide because that is really what achievement is all about - not some silly adjusted attainment figure.
  • juliamac avatar
    Offline
    8
    Posted by: juliamac 25/11/2011 at 08:26
    Reply
    Joined on 23/06/2008
    Posts 38
    The way we interpret achievement is whether pupils are making the progress that you expect or not.
  • T34 avatar
    Offline
    9
    Posted by: T34 26/11/2011 at 16:36
    Reply
    Joined on 15/01/2005
    Posts 4,974

     Probably best not to use the word if it means one thing to one person and something else to another!

  • R13 avatar
    Offline
    10
    Posted by: R13 26/11/2011 at 21:49
    Reply
    Joined on 16/01/2006
    Posts 1,076
    I only logged onto this one again in surprise because the question was answered so perfectly in post 3. There has been debate since BUT post 3 (And clariication in Post 5) is the answer whether we like it or not
Back to top

Sign up – it’s free!

  • Don’t miss out on the latest jobs
  • Connect and share with friends
  • Download thousands of resources
  • Chat in the forums