Sir, - The decision by the Freedom of Information Commissioner to allow publication of individual schools examination results has raised the whole question of comparing the performance of schools. Parents wishing to make a choice about their children's education have a right to meaningful information. However, a league table based purely on exam results would be seriously flawed and would not accurately reflect the true educational performance of schools. This would be particularly true for schools that do not have selection mechanisms for student intake.
A much fairer system would be the introduction of a pupil by pupil value-added system that would monitor students' progress year by year. For example, the performance of a Junior Cert class could be related to their Leaving Cert results two or three years later and compared with national progress over these years. Schools could then be rated as to whether they are above or below the national average. Such a system would have the advantage of recognising all achievements and not just the straight A students. It would put the emphasis on education rather than examination.
Schools need to be encouraged to work with students from diverse backgrounds and varying ability, including those with special needs. However, schools which accept this important task should not be penalised, as they undoubtedly would be under an exam-based league table. - Yours, etc.
Cllr Michael O'Dowd, Balgathern, Drogheda, Co Louth.