Independent/International Benchmark
What is the Independent/International Benchmark and why does it matter?
The Independent/International Benchmark allows Independent and International schools to track performance specifically against other schools with a similar profile. By showing both national and independent-sector perspectives, it helps Independent and International schools highlight their strengths, identify areas for improvement and confidently demonstrate their performance.
This new benchmark functions in the same way as the existing National and Customer benchmarks in Alps Connect. It is based on the Department for Education (DfE) 2019 dataset, with tailored configurations designed to align specifically with independent school contexts and needs.
Who is eligible for the Independent/International Benchmark?
This benchmark is available exclusively to Independent and International schools using the English configuration. Schools outside these parameters will not be able to access the benchmark, as it relies on data from the DfE 2019 dataset, which would not provide accurate comparisons for other configurations.
If you are unsure which configuration your account uses, please email support@alps.education.
How to switch on the Independent/International Benchmark
Please see our video and step-by-step guide below:
If you are an Independent or International School, you can access this new benchmark via the current Benchmark lozenge in the header of Alps Connect. This will take you to the Customer Benchmarks page.
If the lozenge is greyed out, an account administrator will need to grant you benchmark access in your user permissions. Please see our guide for further information: Benchmark Selector.
From there:
- On the right-hand side of the page, open the ‘Set your analysis benchmark’ dropdown field.
- Select ‘Independent/International Benchmark Set’.
- Click Save.
Once applied, the Current Benchmark lozenge in the header will update to reflect your selection, and all pages in Alps Connect will now display data calculated against the Independent/International Benchmark set.
Please note: The Session Benchmark mode will apply only to you and to your current session. When you log out of Connect/Summit, the analysis will default to the benchmark set by your Connect administrator.
Further Information
For more information around the benchmark, the datasets used and the implications of the data, please read our briefing paper here.
If you would like a dedicated session with our Customer Success Team to discuss the new benchmark and what this means for your analysis, you can book a free Alps Health Check using this link: Book Now
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