Agenda item

The Strategic Leader, School Improvement submitted a report containing the results of the GCSE examination results for 2004 and how they compare to previous years to the national average and to the results of statistical neighbours.

The validated figures provided are for all Year 11 students including those educated in special schools.

The percentage of pupils achieving 5+ GCSEs at the higher grade A*-C had improved over the past three years and Rotherham was closing the gap in terms of  the national averages.

A new system has been introduced this year to calculate the average point score of pupils, this includes a wider range of GCSE equivalent qualifications.  Comparisons for this indicator can only be made, therefore, against other figures for this year and not against performance in previous years.

Every year the Department of Education and Skills publish the list of qualifications it approves.  The change in the calculation of average points score allows recognition for qualifications on lower levels of achievement.

Only 5% of pupils in Rotherham left school in 2004 with no GCSE equivalent passes.  This is slightly below both the national average and the average for statistical neighbours.

Girls are still significantly out-performing boys.  The gap in 2004 has remained the same as 2003.  Since its widest point in 1998, however, the gap has narrowed by 4.2%.  This is a National issue and was an area of work for priority over the coming year.

Members of the Scrutiny Panel raised the following questions:-

-     Clifton Comprehensive School seemed to have made good progress in     terms of 5+ A-C grades.  Was there a reason for this? 

            Cliftonserves an area that has the highest level of social and economic   deprivation. Strategies involving course work and attendance at         examinations had been established.  From Year 10-11 each child would             have been assessed and pupils at risk of underachieving would have been            identified and mentored in terms of help with future improvement.

            Other schools will have a focus of work from the School Improvement       Service.

            Thrybergh Comprehensive shows a 13% increase from the 2003-04      figures and Wingfield was predicted to make significant strides forward in       2005.  No schools were below the DfES floor target of 20%  5+ A*-C          achievement.   However, this target will increase to 25% in 2006.

-           What did statistical neighbours mean?

            Ofsted allocate a number of particular areas that are judged as authorities          similar to Rotherham, which was then compared against them.  Local       comparisons were also carried out.  For example, Rotherham’s GCSE     results were the highest in South Yorkshire..

-           Why was St. Bernards Comprehensive School the highest scoring school?

            The point was made that St. BernardsSchool was a faith school and                    as such drew pupils from across most of Rotherham.  They had adopted the same rigorous strategy of monitoring every individual pupil and made a                        prediction internally to monitor their  progress from Year 9 to Year 11 to            ensure that every pupil is supported in achieving their expected level of              attainment.

One member felt more work was needed on the lower attaining pupils.

This led to a discussion on children moving schools and whether schools can be selective in the choice of pupils and their ability to be able to achieve at a higher level.

Resolved:-  That the report be received and the information noted.