Benchmarking data: questions to generate discussion and analysis

Download our list of questions to help you analyse your benchmarking data, and find guidance from the DfE.

Last reviewed on 21 April 2022
School types: All · School phases: All
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Contents
  1. Download our sample questions
  2. Take care interpreting comparative income and expenditure data

Download our sample questions

Use them to help you generate discussion and analyse your benchmarking data. You'll find space to record comments and observations after each question.

We worked with experts Kate Foale and Graeme Hornsby to come up with these questions.

Take care interpreting comparative income and expenditure data

This is because benchmarking describes a school's position relative to that of other schools, rather than explaining why a school is in this position or indicating whether it should be.

There might be a good reason for why a school has relatively high or low figures, but you likely won't be able to tell just from looking at the data.

Review the differences between income and expenditure data at your school and the schools you're benchmarking against Investigate the reasons for these differences Aim to make changes where there aren't adequate reasons for your