Madam, – I taught for many years in a school that has consistently featured among the top “feeder” schools. One might presume that I would be gratified by the figures. Far from it; I regret to say they are a nonsense masquerading as information.
The assertion that feeder school lists represent a “rare triumph for parents” (Education Today, December 1st) is untrue. The article admits that the lists do not take any account of the socio-economic background of the pupils (the major reason why they are nonsense), but goes on to assert that “half a loaf is better than no bread”.
The trouble is that the feeder lists are not “bread” of any kind. Assuming the lists tell you something about the quality of teaching is like asserting that comparing Cowdenbeath (28 points) and Arsenal (25 points) tells you something about the quality of their football. The lists may be compulsive reading, but any parents who think they are better informed as a result are severely deluded. – Yours, etc,