16/1/2008

News

County's schools are top of the class

SURREY’S schools have once again topped the league tables, gaining record examination results and beating the national average.

But the figures also revealed the county was falling behind the national average when it came to pupils aged 16 to 18.

Figures released by the Department for Children, Schools and Families on Thursday showed that 65.3% of pupils achieved five or more GCSEs at A* to C — an increase on last year’s figure of 63% and above the national average of 62%.

There was also further improvement in the proportion of Surrey students achieving five or more A* to C passes including English and mathematics.

The county’s pass rate rose from 50.6% in 2005 to 52.7% in 2006 to 54.0% in 2007. The 2007 national average was 46.7%.

The proportion of students achieving five or more passes at grades A* to G (93.2%) remains above the country average of 91.7%.

However, almost two Surrey pupils in every hundred left school without a single qualification last year — more than the national average.

Notre Dame School in Cobham recorded Elmbridge’s highest average pupil point score across its 56 GCSE students — 508.6.

Heathside School in Weybridge had the greatest number of students at the end of Key Stage 4 at 223. Its average pupil score was 433.5 — the best of all the state schools.

Cobham’s Yehudi Menuhin School recorded the lowest Elmbridge pupil score, an average of 268.7 between its nine pupils.

Secondary school GCSE and equivalent attainment and achievement figures 2007

Figures for those leaving school post-GCSE have also been published — with Surrey falling behind the national average.

At post-16, the average point score for Surrey students in the maintained sector, achieving general and vocational A/AS levels and equivalent level 3 qualifications was 712.8.

The England average for all schools, including independent schools, was 731.1.

St George’s College, Weybridge topped the pile for post 16 qualifications, with an average point score of 967.8 from its 75 pupils.

Yehudi Menuhin School saw the lowest point score per pupil at 533.6 but is a specialist music college for musical prodigies from all over the world.

Heathside School was the best of the state-run schools, recording an average points score of 818.1 per pupil.

Andrew Crisp, Surrey County Council’s Executive member for schools, children and youth services, said: “I congratulate the students, their teachers and parents on this excellent performance in the 2007 examinations.

“The fact that the Surrey figure for five or more GCSE passes at grades A* to C including English and mathematics is well in excess of the national one is evidence of the commitment of Surrey schools to giving students a strong grounding in the basics of literacy and numeracy.”

The league tables give information on the achievement and attainment of pupils in secondary schools compared with others in the county and throughout England.

Apparent discrepancies between school’s published GCSE results and the latest figures could be put down to some independent schools offering international GCSEs not recognised by the Government.

General and vocational A/AS level tables 2007

First printed in: News & Mail Series