School's joy at exam scores as GCSE league tables published

Whilst some are celebrating being in the top 10 percent of schools nationally, others have seen a drop on last year.

Headteachers across the area have named several changes in the factors measured by the government when collating tables as a reason for the drop.

These include that only first attempts were counted, speaking and listening were excluded from the English Language qualification and BTEC qualifications were not counted this year.

League tables are published every year so parents are able to compare schools with others in the local area.

The mark of success at GCSE is pupils attaining five or more passes at grades A* to C, including English and maths.

The English Baccalaureate was introduced in 2010 and shows the proportion of pupils achieving A* to C in English, maths, two science subjects, a modern or ancient language and history or geography.

Thomas Hardye School, Dorchester, is ranked second across the local authority area for the proportion of pupils achieving five or more A*-C grades or equivalent including English and maths- 67 percent of pupils achieved this. A total of 468 pupils took the exams.

Budmouth College ranks third, with 67 percent of 233 pupils achieving five or more A*-Cs.

You can view the league table in full here: Leaguetables.pdf

THOMAS Hardye School is celebrating after coming within the top 10 percent of schools nationally.

It achieved an ‘excellent’ Value Added score, headteacher Michael Foley said.

Value added is a measure of the progress students make between different stages of education.

The score is the difference (positive or negative) between an individual student’s progress and the median score achieved by others with the same or similar starting point.

This is intended to show how schools have helped students progress since taking their Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 tests.

Mr Foley said: “We are delighted with this year’s results. Being in the top 10 percent of schools nationally for both GCSE and A level, is a real achievement for our students. A VA (value added) score of 1029 reflects the excellent progress students make at all ability levels, including disadvantaged students. This is more good news following confirmation from the ALPs organisation that our sixth form results are the best in Dorset.”

The Isle of Portland Aldridge Academy (IPACA) has seen a drop on last year’s figures.

A total of 43 percent of students achieved five or more A*-C grades including English and maths.

The percentage achieving A*-C in English has fallen from 66 percent to 51 percent.

But the academy says the drop is due to a number of factors, including that subjects such as business, where students achieved ‘top grades’ are not counted in the tables.

Rob Russell, an interim principal at IPACA said it provides subjects that ‘best support the needs and futures of students’ and doesn’t want to ‘just teach something because it’s in a league table.’ He added that the academy’s results are still ‘well above what schools on Portland have ever achieved.’ “You also have to take in to account that these tables are based on first entry results- so the first time a student takes the exams.

“The whole idea [of education] is if you fail, you learn from it and give it another go. But the government only counts first attempt.

“So whilst our figure for English is 69 percent, by the time students left in June, we had got it up to 74 percent- but that isn’t counted.”

He said a number of steps have been taken to improve results, such as working with the Dorset Maths Hub, making new hires and commissioning a team of consultants.

He said the academy takes any drop in attainment ‘extremely seriously.’ “We are looking forwards and are incredibly confident that we can improve our results,” he said.

Headteacher at Sir John Colfox School, Kay Taylor, praised the staff and students for their hard work throughout the year and said the tables were not reflective of the school’s ‘real’ results.

The school achieved 62 percent for five or more A*-C grades including English and maths and ranks seventh in the area.

Mrs Taylor said: “The performance tables this year cannot be compared to previous tables as there are several differences.

These include: · BTEC qualifications are no longer counted this year, though they will be counted again next year · Resits in subjects such as maths were not included and only the first time a student sat a course was counted · iGCSE Biology has not been counted although iGCSE English language has · Speaking and listening was excluded from the English Language qualification when students were more than half way through their course.

“All this has led to considerable turbulence in the results. Students, however, who achieved any of these qualifications were able to count them as GCSE’s, which is the more important figure.

“In our case, when we included these qualifications, 67 per cent of our students achieved five A*-C including English and maths by August 2014.

“This is the real figure and represented the best results the school has ever had.

“We have always believed that we should do what is right for students, not what the performance tables count.

“In 2014 our students worked exceptionally hard and produced excellent results, thanks to our dedicated and supportive staff.

“They should be proud of all their achievements”.

Dr Richard Steward, headteacher at Woodroffe School in Lyme Regis, which achieved 66 percent for five or more A*-C grades and ranks fourth across the area, said he was pleased with the results.

Dr Steward said: “Despite the continuing turbulence in the examination system, Woodroffe continues to be one of the highest performing secondary schools in the county.

“The league tables celebrate the school's success but that success depends upon the achievements and commitment of our students and that's what we should really be celebrating.”

WEY Valley School saw 52 percent of students achieve five or more A*-C grades and is ranked 16th in the local authority area.

It had 199 students sitting the exams.

Beaminster School achieved 57 percent and sits 12th in the area.