Student Value-Added (VAS)

Student Value-Added (VAS)

The Student VAS or Value Added Score is a quantitative measurement of how much progress an individual student has made over all subjects in relation to the aspiration at the 75th percentile. Currently, we calculate the Student VAS for A level and Key Stage 4 only. 

How is the Student VAS calculated? 

All value-added calculations in Connect use the VA equation below: 


For A level, we have used all A level courses taken by each individual student to generate a value-added number that rotates around 1.00, in line with all other value-added measurements in the analysis. 
  1. The actual points is the total points achieved across all subjects. Where a student is studying a mixture of A level and vocational qualifications, we have only used the A level points.
  2. The Expected Points are the points derived from our benchmark tables. Students are assigned to Alps Prior Attainment bands and each band has a Minimum Expected Points value. The MEP is generated from the average points achieved by students in a given band in the provider at the 75th percentile nationally. The MEPs are translated into the Minimum Expected Grades within Connect, but calculations will always use the MEP as the Expected Points value.
  3. The number of entries would be the number of A level qualifications taken by that student.
  4. The 'x100' denominator means that at A level, 0.2 of a score difference equates to a grade. 

At Key Stage 4, the formula is the same with same definitions. The denominator is now 'x5' to bring the calculation in line with GCSE points. All KS4 subjects contribute to the calculation - GCSE and vocational subjects. 

Accessing Student VAS

The Student VAS column is located in the Student Analysis zone. First select your Gradepoint in step one on the homepage, and then click View Analysis in the Student Analysis zone. 


This will open the Student Analysis overview screen, where the VAS columns are located in the table as indicated below: 


Clicking the VAS column heading will allow you to reorder your table in ascending or descending VAS.  

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