RESEARCH conducted by Bristol University has blamed the abolition of school league tables in Wales for Welsh pupils faring worse at GCSE than their English counterparts, it has been revealed this week.
Our question this week is: do school league tables improve standards or were they abolished for a reason?
Secondary schools in Wales are performing worse since league tables were abolished, the new research claims.
The 'naming-and-shaming' that accompanied the publication of league tables led to more effective schools, says the Bristol University study.
League tables were abolished in 2001 in Wales but still exist in England.
Education in Wales is a devolved issue, run by the Welsh Assembly Government.
The WAG said league tables were not the 'most effective' way of presenting schools' information. Unions have since criticised the research.
Researchers at Bristol University compared schools in England and Wales before and after the league table abolition in 2001.
Vote in the usual way below, or email us at news@countytimes.co.uk