Politically motivated meddling in the examination system, by both Conservatives and Labour, has done little to boost school standards or pupil performance.

The 16 schools in the district, Mr. Quinones said, suffered from "poor pupil performance, mismanagement, improper personnel decisions and general lack of leadership."

Sweden has slipped down international league tables for pupil performance since state-funded free schools, which now total more than 1,000, were introduced by a centre-right government in the 1990s.

This gives Saxton a wide latitude to influence pupil performance.

Using randomization, it is possible to generate many examples of a similar nature that, if required, can also be self-grading against pupil performance.

The case reflects a wider debate among educators and social scientists about the extent to which school financing influences pupil performance after a certain point.

Statistical analysis showed no impact on pupil performance in the first year in which departments were fully equipped.

It provides schools and colleges with a Management Information System and handheld data capture devices to record and track pupil performance.

Following this, the "coherence" of a level is analysed in terms of the consistency of pupil performance within and between topics.

It will all without question make the schools and LEAs more accountable, at least in terms of pupil performance, to parents and public.