League Tables, Ofsted, and Opinions: How to Filter the Noise and Find Your Fit
- Joe Pardoe
- May 11
- 3 min read
When it comes to choosing a primary school, it’s easy to feel like you’re doing detective work.
You’ve probably looked at:
📊 League tables (but aren’t sure what the numbers actually mean)
🧾 Ofsted reports (but feel overwhelmed by the jargon)
💬 Other parents’ opinions (which often contradict each other!)
The result? Confusion, doubt, and a growing fear of making the “wrong” decision.
But here’s the thing: not all data is helpful, and not all opinions are useful — unless you know how to filter them.
In this blog, I’ll show you how to tune out the noise and tune in to what really matters — so you can choose a school that fits your values and your child, not someone else’s checklist.
1. 🧮 What league tables actually show (and what they don’t)
League tables often focus on Key Stage 2 SATs results — that’s the data from Year 6, the final year of primary school.
But here’s what many parents don’t realise:
SATs results are influenced by many factors outside of school — including demographics, prior attainment, and even attendance patterns.
A school with “lower” results might actually be working miracles with a challenging intake.
A high-performing school may focus heavily on test preparation, which might not suit your child’s learning style.
So instead of asking, “Who’s top of the table?” ask:👉 “Does this school show progress? Do pupils seem supported regardless of background or starting point?”
2. 🏫 How to read Ofsted without panic
The word "Ofsted" often makes parents freeze — but you don’t need to read reports like a professional.
Focus on:
Leadership and safeguarding – is the school well-run and safe?
Teaching quality – is learning engaging and well-structured?
Pupil behaviour and support – are children respectful, supported and happy?
Don’t obsess over the headline grade. Read a few paragraphs. Ask yourself:
Does this match what I see when I visit?
Does anything worry me, or does it feel like a reasonable picture of strengths and areas to grow?
And check the date — some reports are years out of date and don’t reflect current leadership or staff.
In my course, I take you through - step-by-step - ALL of the data available about schools, including loads of 'hidden' data most parents don't know about - including how much a school spends on things such as supply teachers!
3. 🗣️ How to use other parents’ opinions wisely
Word of mouth can be incredibly helpful — but only if you know how to use it.
Try asking:
What do you like most about the school?
What do you wish was different?
How have the staff supported your child when things were difficult?
And remember: another parent’s values and priorities may be very different from yours.
Just because one parent loves a school’s discipline doesn’t mean it will suit a child who needs more nurture. And just because someone “wouldn’t touch that school with a bargepole” doesn’t mean it’s not exactly what your child needs.
In my course, I take you through my FIVE KEY DEBATES IN EDUCATION framework, to help you understand your own values and how to understand the underlying approach taken in a school.
4. 🧭 What to do instead: Filter through your values
Rather than looking for the best school, try to identify:
✅ What kind of learning environment your child thrives in
✅ What your non-negotiables are
✅ What kind of school culture fits your family
Then you can interpret the data and opinions you hear through that lens — and avoid being swayed by someone else’s story.
Final thought…
The school you choose doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to be a place where your child feels safe, seen, and supported — and where the values you care about are lived out every day.
💡 If you want help cutting through the data, decoding school websites, and getting clear on your own values, my online course does exactly that.
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