Introduction
Headline Figures KS5 Performance dashboard is a very powerful and easy to use page for analysing exam results, providing key performance measures for Year 13 cohorts. It enables the user to have an informed view of each key performance measure at the click of a button, whether for the whole cohort or by individual context.
The purpose of this guide is to take the user through the steps required to set up and manage the system to make the most of the KS5 Performance dashboard.
The key components which feature in this guide are described below:
KS5 Cohort Definition allows the user to manage each cohort of students, excluding students individually according to school need. This component will determine how all output is measured on the dashboard.
Headline Figures Datasets are used to create “snapshots” of data which can be used to analyse key performance measures for KS5 cohorts. They are designed to work in conjunction with each cohort, as defined by the user on the KS5 Cohort Definitions page. It is then a simple process to create, copy, refresh or delete datasets, producing immediate results on the appropriate KS performance dashboard.
Exam Results: The components above are all that are required to produce exam results’ performance as the system will draw data directly from the Examinations module.
In this guide:
- Headline Figures Control
- Headline Figures Datasets
Using the KS5 Performance Dashboard
- Overview
- Subject
- Student
- Settings
For more information on DfE 16-18 performance measures see here School and college performance measures – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Setting up Components
The minimum set of components required are all found in the same location: Modules > Analysis > Routines and brief set up is described below for each.
Access: To carry out this task, you will need the following permission from within the Analysis Module of Config > Setup > Roles & Permissions.
Headline Figures Control
Modules > Analysis > Routines > Key Stage Cohort Definitions
The KS5 Cohort Definition page is a simple control mechanism to ensure that the students “Included” in the cohort are students used in the KS Performance dashboards. The process is simple to manage and gives the school total control of who is included.
The system will automatically populate the lists with students on roll at the start of each academic year and will add new students to the “Included” list thereafter.
Note: There are two KS5 Definitions – one of which is suffixed with (Old) which was previously used for the earlier version of the KS5 Performance Dashboard and for analysis. To use the new KS5 Performance Dashboard use the KS5 Cohort Definition.
To configure the cohort, simply select the Academic Year and Year Group, and Reset. Then decide to include/exclude as desired.
Note, however, that we have left the “leavers” as a manual process. Simply sort for leavers by Leaving Date, check the boxes and Exclude them before analysing data.
Students do not have to be leavers to be excluded. Students may be excluded if the school wants to see what results would look like without certain individuals. These can be restored at any time simply by selecting them from the Exclude list and including them again.
Note: Year 13 performance all guest, subsidiary, and Year 14 students will appear by default in the Excluded list. If required for analysis, these can be added to the Included list by ticking the check box and selecting Include.
Headline Figures Datasets
Modules > Analysis > Routines > Headline Figures Datasets
The dataset is the driver of the KS5 Performance dashboard and is called a Snapshot on the dashboard, to reflect the data it is analysing. The dashboard will not work without it!
Although the above components won’t affect the creation of a dataset snapshot, leaving them unreviewed may produce unexpected results.
Following these general rules before creating a new dataset, or editing an existing one, will help avoid surprises in output!
- Check the KS5 Cohort Definition before creating or managing datasets to ensure you have included/excluded all students as required.
- Ensure the data collection is complete before creating the dataset (If there is no data found, the Cohort Information panel on the dashboard will return 0).
- Refresh a dataset when changes have been made.
A dataset is made up of the following elements:
- Name – mandatory field up to 50 characters
- Description – optional additional description
- Cohort – defined by Academic Year and Year Group from KS5 Cohort Definition page
- Focus – Exam Results is the default setting and is set automatically to the summer season of the Academic Year of the selected Cohort
- Enabled Status – active by default
- Embargoed Status – applies to exam results and will be ‘on’ by default. This should be unchecked once the KS5 results have been published by DfE
Managing Datasets
Creating a New Dataset
Select Headline Figures Datasets from the Analysis > Routines and select KS5 Datasets for the Key Stage dropdown. Then click New.
Add a Name. For example, Yr13 2023 Exam Results. The Description is optional and should be used for notes on the dataset.
Select a Cohort from the dropdown.
Focus – set to Exam Results.
Save the dataset.
Saving the dataset will automatically generate the snapshot and it will be ready for use on the KS5 Performance dashboard as soon as the Refresh process has been performed. See Refreshing a Dataset below.
Note – An existing dataset can be used as the basis for a new one which removes the need to start from scratch each time. See Copying a Dataset below.
Refreshing a Dataset
This is a single selection process and does not update all datasets, for the reasons explained here. The Refresh function will update the dataset and overwrite existing data. Once Refresh is clicked, it starts a background process* to update data for use on the dashboard.
*Important Note: All exam result datasets simply require the Refresh action to produce the data on the KS5 Dashboard.
Refresh should be used to generate the initial dataset Snapshot but can also be used to overwrite data. For example, when you have updated the Cohort in the KS5 Cohort Definition page and just want to update the Snapshot without changing other components. In this instance, there is no need to create a new dataset or copy it, unless you wish to make comparisons. Also, results may have been amended, so Refresh will update these too.
Editing a Dataset
This is a single selection process. To Edit a dataset, simply select it and either click Edit or double-click. If merely changing the Name or Description, make any changes as required then Save. If changes are made to any of the key functional components: Cohort, or Focus, then to update the dataset, Refresh is required. If the aim is to use the dataset for the next data collection, then using Copy would be the suggested option. See Copying an Existing Dataset below.
Copying a Dataset
This is a single selection process. The Copy function will create a copy of an existing dataset to retain the settings of the original. Simply rename it and change any of the key functional components: Cohort, or Focus, as required. Save the new settings then use the Refresh function described above to generate the copied dataset.
Both the copied dataset and the original will be available as Snapshots on the KS5 Performance dashboard.
Deleting a Dataset
This is a multi-selection process. To Delete datasets, simply click on the dataset(s) to highlight and click Delete. A warning confirmation to Proceed with the deletion will appear. This will delete the dataset completely. If this dataset is the saved Snapshot on the KS5 Performance dashboard, it will be removed and the KS5 Dashboard Snapshot Setting reset to its default state.
Enabling and Disabling Datasets
This is a multi-selection process. Select the datasets to be disabled, then simply select Action > Disable.
This will hide the datasets to keep the homepage tidy. Unchecking the Show Only Enabled Datasets tick box will reveal all datasets along with their status on the right of the table.
To reverse the process, simply uncheck to display all, select the datasets to be restored to their Active status and click Action>Enable. Individual datasets may also be disabled/enabled using Edit button and unchecking/checking the Enable tick box.
Using the KS5 Performance Dashboard
Home > KS5 Performance
The KS5 Dashboard has a single permission to enable access to the page. Configuration > Setup > Roles & Permissions > Module: Profile > KS5 Dashboard.
The dashboard is composed of three tabs: Overview, Subject, and Student, and the Settings panel.
Overview
The Overview tab consists of three panels: A Level, Applied Generals, and Academic.
Note: Targets and Value Added are expected to be available in 2024 as per DfE timelines and will be reflected in the charts accordingly.
Cohort Information
To switch between the cohort, use the Cohort Information dropdown to view Total (default), Female, or Male.
Disadvantaged
Show All Disadvantaged toggle will reveal four additional rows in blue in all panels – Disadvantaged, Disadv. VA, Disadv. Ave. Grade, and Disadv. APS.
Subject
The Subject tab shows an overview of Subject performance for KS5. Each Qualification Level and Qualification Type can be filtered independently.
Users can Add, remove, and reorder columns using the Columns filter in the table. Or simply drag and drop the columns into a different position, directly in the Subject Overview table.
Users can use the advanced Filters and search functionality in the table.
Subject Analysis
Click on a Subject to reveal the Subject Analysis table to show student performance for that subject.
Individual Profile
From the Subject Analysis table – click on the Student Last Name to show Individual Profile snapshot for that student’s KS5 performance.
Quick Measures
Toggle Quick Measures and select from the Qual Level dropdown to show instant Achieved v Not Achieved results.
Click on the number Achieved / Not Achieved to reveal the Student List Achieved / Not Achieved.
Student
The Student tab provides an overview of Student performance for KS5.
Drag columns into a different order using the nine dots in the Columns filter. Or simply drag and drop the columns into a different position within their group e.g., Attributes.
Note: Users can also drag and drop columns directly in the Student Overview table.
Export Data
Click on Export Data to export the table to Excel or CSV, with or without any filters applied.
Settings
There are two options within the Settings panel: Snapshot to display; and Additional Menu Options (for the Student tab only). Use Apply to save and update the settings; use Reset to restore to the previous Settings.
Snapshot to display
Having created a dataset on the KS5 Headline Figures Dataset page, simply select it from the dropdown list.
Additional Menu Options
Select up to 7 Student Attributes for inclusion in the Student Overview table. These are hidden by default and are revealed using the Columns filter. Student Attributes are available from the Student List page.
