IT’S a great shame that schools are judged on figures, percentages and statistics, but in reality it’s the only way it will ever be done.

Without these statistics, there would be no scrutiny, no accountability and no measure of success.

It would be wonderful to judge schools on the qualitative information available, but it’s simply not possible. They have to be judged on quantitative data – and that data is always going to be grades.

So some schools will always be in the below average category - not everyone can be above average. We are lucky in Brighton and Hove.

Our schools perform way and above the national average.

And they are not complacent with it. They constantly strive to be better, and in such a small city the competition to be better than the school down the road is healthy.

It’s sad that the Government makes schools jump through hoops to prove themselves. Yes, they have to show they are producing an end product.

But by constantly changing the goalposts teachers can spend less time doing what they’re good at and what they’re employed to do - teaching.