In a world that often celebrates giant leaps and massive achievements, "The 1% principle" brings a refreshing and empowering perspective to education. This concept challenges everyone to rethink their approach to growth and success - focussing instead on the small gains that make up our everyday life in a school.
At its core, it is about the cumulative effect of incremental improvements - a journey of a thousand miles, but by one step at a time.
Used to great success by Sir Dave Brailsford and others, it takes the idea that lots of small improvements collectively make a huge difference as this quote from Shirley Mansfield – founder of CoachSME - explains..
“From cycling to education; car making to holidays, people are finding that 1% certainly makes a big difference. But why? It simply means focusing on small changes to everything in the business; 1% at a time.
Concentrate on making many 1% improvements and you’ll find the compound effect is huge.”
Susan Mansfield – Ultimate Guide to Marginal...
Did you know the full breakdown of your KS2 SATs results is available every year?
The KS2 SATs give a validated indication of each of your students strengths and weaknesses and the results are made available every year by the DfE – broken down to performance in each individual question via analyse school performance.
These are standardised assessments – marked independently – and so give a great overview of your school curriculum and how successfully it guided your Year 6 to achieve their potential.
Or more importantly, it can provide the keys to unlock your curriculum and raise attainment across your school for many years to come... and yet, so many schools simply do not use this resource even though it is free and easy to download!!
But this is data from the past...
We agree but by looking back at how your full Year 6 cohort performed, you may be able to see gaps that surely suggest more about how they were...
"The Magic Bullet" in your school
Described by some as the magic bullet, Question Level Analysis is now becoming more popular in schools across the country. By looking at your assessment data in forensic detail - you can find those small gains to guide intervention, plug learning gaps and so much more.
There is so much more to QLA than exam prep! Let me explain what I mean...
Examinations | Dive Deeper | Personal Learning Journey | Implement Change | Pass it Forward
What does Question Level Analysis do?
Question Level Analysis breaks assessment data down into groups – looking instead at topics and cohorts rather than the individual answers themselves. This aggregation allows you to identify patterns and trends that might otherwise go unnoticed. This approach can highlight specific areas where students are struggling or excelling, allowing educators to make targeted interventions.
However, the real strength of QLA lies in its ability to guide evidence-based decision-making....
What can help pupils make a successful Transition to Secondary School?
We surveyed secondary schools up and down the country asking about Transition.
Every school and area has a different way of working. Most focus first on getting to know their pupils with activity days in school or a mock timetable. This is really important.
But what about academic transition?
Stalled Progress at Key Stage 3
A recent Ofsted report stated..
"the transition to secondary is too often poorly managed and teaching fails to build on the gains pupils have made in primary school. Inspectors have found that pupils often leave primary school with good literacy and numeracy skills, confident and eager to learn, but their progress then stalls when they start secondary school."
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/too-many-students-let-down-in-early-stages-of-secondary-school
The fact is that the importance of a good start to secondary school education cannot be overstated. Pupils need to enjoy school and get involved with the many subjects to choose them at Key Stage 4.
The report continues..
"School leaders need...
What makes a Good Question Level Analysis?
Answer: Detailed Analysis
Described by some as the magic bullet, Question Level Analysis is now becoming more popular in schools across the country.
Many free grids are available over the internet designed to help break assessments down as a guide for teachers but they do not give you the forensic or time saving analysis you need. In fact - some of them don't even do analysis at "question level".
DAISI Education has been making QLA for schools all over the country for nearly 10 years. Our Question Level Analysis has been proven to help schools improve* their results over time. Therefore, as a team of education analysts, we know what makes a good one and how it can save time and raise attainment. The answer is the level of ANALYSIS.
*80% of schools who used DAISI Question Level Analysis over three years have seen an increase in their attainment.
So what makes a Good QLA?
Ten Question to ask...
1....
One of the most popular sports across the world at the moment is Formula One.
Here a matter of millimetres or milliseconds can make the difference between finishing first or last. Aerodynamics are checked constantly for any extra speed, the cars are fine-tuned with the latest data to make them go faster and faster. All parts will be updated at a cost of millions of pounds if it means the car will go a simple second quicker.
“Data is becoming increasingly important – not just in the world of Formula One, but the world in general. In F1, we use our data on our relentless search for performance, across all functions of the team – both at the track and at the factory,”
Toto Wolff - Head of Mercedes F1
Even the driving styles of each driver is manipulated with guidance from the computers for every corner - what line to take, when to brake, how much to brake. Every lap is...
What do you find in a DAISI QLA?
DAISI Education have been making Question Level Analysis since 2014, helping many schools find the marginal gains they needed to improve their results.
By examining your assessment data in forensic detail, you can uncover small gains that guide interventions, address learning gaps, and achieve much more.
What is QLA? How can it help my school?
Question Level Analysis breaks assessment data down into groups – looking instead at topics and cohorts rather than the individual answers themselves.
This aggregation allows you to identify patterns and trends that might otherwise go unnoticed and can highlight specific areas where students are struggling or excelling, allowing educators to make targeted interventions.
However, the real strength of QLA lies in its ability to guide evidence-based decision-making.
By identifying small, marginal gains, schools can implement focused strategies that lead to significant improvements over time. When these insights are integrated into school improvement plans, they can enhance teaching effectiveness and student outcomes across...
The whole of education is underpinned by the relationship between the teacher and pupil.
As the quote above from Sidney Hook states, you don't remember how you were taught but you do remember who taught you and what an inspiration they were. You remember the relationship that you formed with your teacher - the personal connection between you that remains with you to this day.
Every pupil has their own personal learning journey.
Teachers have the power to inspire and encourage. Every step of the way, the pupil learns something new - guided and instructed by their teacher and so learn what motivates them, what inspires them and what they want to become as they become older. Over time, they will grow in knowledge, confidence and learn so much about themselves and the world around them.
Remember these wonderful and true words from Ross Crockett..
“If there’s anyone who is in a position to bring positive change into the world...
Back in 2012, at the heart of London Olympics, Sir Dave Brailsford repeatedly told people of his belief in the marginal gains principle.
Speaking to the BBC, he said
“The whole principle came from the idea that if you broke down everything you could think of, that goes into riding a bike, and then improved it by 1%, you will get a significant increase when you put them all together. There’s fitness and conditioning, of course, but there are other things that might seem on the periphery, like sleeping in the right position, having the same pillow when you are away and training in different places. They’re tiny things but if you clump them together it makes a big difference.”
Brailsford believed that if it were possible to make a 1% improvement in a whole host of areas, the cumulative gains would end up being hugely significant. This principle has guided and driven the cycling team to great heights and Brailsford’s...
When working within cycling both at the 2012 Olympics and onwards with the SKY or INEOS racing team, Sir Dave Brailsford employs a significant principal in all he does.
The 1% principal is based on the small changes that TOGETHER make a big change.
As Brailsford said, Speaking to the BBC…
“The whole principle came from the idea that if you broke down everything you could think of, that goes into riding a bike, and then improved it by 1%, you will get a significant increase when you put them all together. There’s fitness and conditioning, of course, but there are other things that might seem on the periphery, like sleeping in the right position, having the same pillow when you are away and training in different places. They’re tiny things but if you clump them together it makes a big difference.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34247629
He believed that if it were possible to make a 1% improvement in a whole host of areas, the cumulative gains would end...
