FindSchool.uk Methodology

Rating Overview

FindSchool.uk uses a comprehensive 1-10 rating system that combines multiple data points to provide a fair assessment of each school. Our methodology is designed to be transparent, contextual, and reflective of the multiple dimensions that contribute to school quality.

Coverage varies slightly by nation: England has full scoring, Welsh ratings are currently limited to secondary schools, Scotland uses a streamlined model, and Northern Ireland schools display their available data without an overall score while we work with the published datasets.

Rating Scale Interpretation

9-10

Outstanding

Exceptional performance across all measured areas. These schools consistently exceed expectations.

7-8

Good

Above average performance with strong outcomes. Most areas meet or exceed standards.

5-6

Average

Satisfactory performance meeting expected standards. Mixed strengths and areas for improvement.

3-4

Below Average

Performance below expected standards. Significant areas requiring improvement.

1-2

Poor

Substantial underperformance. Urgent improvement needed across multiple areas.

Rating Factors

The algorithm adapts to the data each nation publishes. In England (and any school with Ofsted coverage) we blend academic performance, inspection outcomes, and attendance. In the devolved nations, the mix shifts to reflect what is reliably available locally.

📊 Academic Performance

40% weight (England)

We compare English, Maths, and Science outcomes against the local authority average for the same phase of education. Every four percentage points above the LA average adds roughly one rating point on the 1-10 scale (capped at 1-10). Missing subjects are skipped and the average recalculates using the remaining ones.

🎓 Inspection Rating

40% weight (England)

Latest Ofsted overall effectiveness is mapped to a 1-10 contribution (Outstanding 9.5, Good 7.5, Requires Improvement 4.5, Inadequate 2.5). Scotland and Wales do not currently publish comparable judgements, so this component is omitted there and the weights redistribute.

📅 Attendance

20% weight (England)

The most recent attendance rate is scaled between 80% (score of 1) and 100% (score of 10). We also show the local authority average for context.

Regional weighting summary:

England: Academic 40% • Ofsted 40% • Attendance 20%
Wales (secondary schools only): Academic 80% • Attendance 20% (no Ofsted equivalent published)
Scotland: Academic 80% • Attendance 20% (inspection ratings not used)
Northern Ireland: Ratings are currently withheld due to insufficient public performance data (more detail below).

Calculation Process

Step 1: Local Comparisons & Scaling

We translate each input onto a 1-10 scale before combining them:

Academic vs local authority: Starting from 5, every 4 percentage points above (or below) the LA average shifts the score by ±1, capped between 1 and 10. Subjects without reliable data are ignored.
Attendance: 80% attendance or lower maps to 1, 100% maps to 10, and we interpolate linearly between those points.
Ofsted overall effectiveness: Outstanding = 9.5, Good = 7.5, Requires Improvement = 4.5, Inadequate = 2.5. Wales and Scotland skip this component.

Step 2: Weighted Average

// Rating Calculation Formula

England = (Academic × 0.40) + (Ofsted × 0.40) + (Attendance × 0.20)
Wales / Scotland = (Academic × 0.80) + (Attendance × 0.20)

We round the weighted score to the nearest whole number for display and also compute a percentile versus other schools in the same local authority.

Step 3: Data Completeness Adjustment

Schools with incomplete data receive adjusted ratings to maintain fairness:

⚠️ Partial Data Handling

When a component is missing, the remaining weights scale up proportionally so the score still sits on 1-10. Minimum evidence thresholds differ by nation (40 points for England, 20 for Wales, 50 for Scotland). If a school does not meet the threshold we label it "Insufficient data" instead of forcing a rating.

Example Calculation

Sample School Rating Calculation

1

Academic performance: 75% English, 78% Maths, 80% Science versus an LA average of 70% → 6.8/10 after scaling.

2

Ofsted rating: Good → 7.5/10 contribution.

3

Attendance: 95.8% → 8.1/10 on the attendance scale.

4

Calculation: (6.8 × 0.4) + (7.5 × 0.4) + (8.1 × 0.2) = 7.3 → rounded to 7/10.

Final Rating: 7/10 (Good)

Special Considerations

Wales

We currently have enough attainment coverage to rate secondary schools only. Estyn does not publish Ofsted-style overall judgements, so Welsh ratings rely exclusively on academic performance (80%) and attendance (20%). Primary and all-through schools in Wales will show "Insufficient data" until the national datasets become more complete.

Scotland

Scottish schools use a two-component score: academic performance (English and Maths where available) weighted at 60% and attendance at 40%. Education Scotland inspection gradings are not yet incorporated because the data is not provided in a compatible national format.

Northern Ireland

The public data releases for Northern Ireland do not currently provide consistent attainment, inspection. As a result we do not publish an overall rating and instead surface any contextual information we have gathered for those schools.

Special Schools

Special Educational Needs settings often have bespoke curricula and limited published attainment data. We display attendance and inspection information when available, and clearly mark when a rating cannot be calculated.

New Schools

Schools less than 3 years old may have limited data. We flag these schools, update ratings as soon as new academic and attendance releases arrive, and avoid inferring scores from incomplete baselines.

Transparency Commitments

We believe in complete transparency about our ratings:

Data sources: All data sources are clearly identified on each school profile
Component breakdown: Users can see how each factor contributes to the overall rating
Data freshness: Last update dates are displayed for all metrics
Completeness indicators: We show when ratings are based on partial data
No hidden factors: Our entire methodology is public and open to scrutiny

Limitations & Disclaimers

While our ratings provide valuable insights, they have limitations:

Ratings cannot capture all aspects of school quality (e.g., culture, extracurriculars)
Data may be up to 12 months old depending on government release cycles
Context matters - a lower-rated school might still be the best fit for your child
Private schools may have limited publicly available data
Ratings should be one of many factors in school selection

Important: We strongly recommend visiting schools, speaking with staff, and considering your child's individual needs when making school choices. Our ratings are a starting point for research, not a definitive judgment.

Our Methodology