The report the Department for Education does NOT want you to read

One of the better policies of this government is its offering massive databases up for public scrutiny. Sunlight is the best disinfectant, argues David Cameron, and outsiders can scrutinise what the government is doing and point to flaws. With commendable openness the Department for Education asked Deloitte to look at its massive pupil database last year, which has records on half a million kids factoring in exam results, postcode, ethnicity and poverty. And also the bizarre variation in English spending-per-pupil figures which vary from £4,500 to £10,000 per pupil (odd, given that teachers operate on national pay bargaining). Crucially, Deloitte was also asked to look at spending. The coalition is embarking on a Pupil Premium scheme which makes the poorest pupils £900 more valuable to teach — so perhaps it would vindicate this decision. The results (here, pdf) were something of a bombshell, and have never been reported on before.