The FT’s school league tables are different from all the others, as they focus unashamedly on academic achievement as defined by “core” subject A-level results, as set out by Cambridge University in 2006. Subjects such as drama and media studies would not be included in our analysis.

By contrast, the government’s summary scores for schools at GCE/VCE, A-level and AS-levels this year (for 2008 exam results) again included various other qualifications in subjects such as animal care and make-up, which we feel give little help to students and parents aiming for places at top universities.