EVERY secondary school in Weymouth and Portland is below the national average according to a new performance indicator.

One school, IPACA, is considered to be under-performing by falling below -0.5. Just 37 per cent of pupils at this school achieved grades of A* to C in both English and maths.

But headteachers have criticised new methods of measuring standards, describing them as ‘confusing’ and ‘only showing a snapshot of student achievement’.

The Progress 8 measures how much progress pupils make from primary school to secondary school across eight qualifications. A school is considered below average if their score is below zero, while a score of above zero means pupils on average do better at KS4 – GCSE level – than the national average. Schools with a score of below -0.5 will be monitored more closely in future.

The new way of calculating results means it is inaccurate to compare and contrast schools directly year-on-year.

Wey Valley, Budmouth, All Saints and IPACA all scored less than zero in the new indicator, according to the figures released by the government this morning, as did Beaminster School and the Sir John Colfox School in Bridport.

Thomas Hardye in Dorchester scored above zero, as did the Woodroffe School in Lyme Regis. 

Kevin Broadway, headmaster at All Saints, said the school had been expecting a low Progress 8 score because the government announced this would be the new main performance indicator after last year’s Year 11 pupils had chosen this option.

Their Progress 8 score was -0.29.

The figures also showed 65 per cent of pupils achieved A* to C grades in English and maths.

Mr Broadway said: “This meant 65 out of 171 pupils did not have the correct combination of subjects to maximise the Progress 8 score. The school then had a choice which was, do we take the hit or make pupils retake options. We chose to do what was best for the pupils which was to let them continue the subjects they had already started.”

He added: “That’s not to say we do not take it seriously. But it is confusing for parents and the important thing for pupils is how many A* to C grades including English and maths they achieved.”

At both Thomas Hardye and Woodroffe Schools 77 per cent of pupils achieved A* to C grades in English and maths.

Mike Foley, headteacher at Thomas Hardye, said their results were ‘absolutely outstanding’. Their Progress 8 score was 0.37.

He added: “One of the reasons our Progress 8 is good is that English and maths are a big part of it, and in this school those skills are incredibly strong. We could not be happier with the results, both GCSE and A Level. It has just been one of those years for us.”

David Herbert, headteacher of Sir John Colfox School, said their Attainment 8 score, which measures the achievement of a pupil across eight subjects, was above average.

Their Progress 8 score was -0.09.

He added: “The performance measures being used from this year are much different from what have been used before. The league tables only show a tiny snapshot about student achievement in any school.

“We are pleased to be at, or above, national averages in all of these new measures in the first year they have been used and one that has not been easy for many schools.”

The Dorset Echo has contacted IPACA to request a comment.

Below 0 in progress 8 score

All Saints Church of England School (-0.29)

Beaminster School (-0.28)

Budmouth College (-0.23)

IPACA, Portland (-0.88)

Sir John Colfox School, Bridport (-0.09)

The Wey Valley School, Weymouth (-0.30)

Above 0 in Progress 8 score

The Woodroffe School, Lyme Regis (0.23)

The Thomas Hardye School, Dorchester (0.37)

The Swanage School, Swanage (0.44)

The Purbeck School, Wareham (0.25)

Average Attainment 8 score per pupil

All Saints School 48.6

Beaminster School 47.8

Budmouth College 49.3

IPACA 39.8

The Purbeck School, Wareham 50.1

Sir John Colfox 50.4

The Swanage School 50.5

The Thomas Hardye School 55.7

The Wey Valley School 45.5

Woodroffe School, Lyme Regis 55.5

Percentage of pupils achieving A* to C in both English and maths

All Saints 65 per cent

Beaminster 61 per cent

Budmouth College 63 per cent

IPACA 37 per cent

The Purbeck School, Wareham 62 per cent

John Colfox 60 per cent

The Swanage School 62 per cent

Thomas Hardye 77 per cent

Wey Valley 50 per cent

Woodroffe School 77 per cent

Average point score per academic entry for A Levels

Budmouth 26.45

Beaminster 34.33

Purbeck School, Wareham 28.12

IPACA 15

John Colfox 23.47

Thomas Hardye 33.08

Weymouth College 23.54

Woodroffe 30.31