4/3/2008

News

Top class results

ELMBRIDGE’S 14 year olds have performed above the national average in all but one secondary school.

The key stage three value-added score was highest at Esher High (101.2), followed by Heathside (101.1), Hinchley Wood (100.7) and then Rydens (99.4).

Points are awarded for the level each pupil achieves.

Levels five and six are considered average for 14-year-olds and receive 33 and 39 points respectively.

Heathside (38.3), Hinchley Wood (38.3) and Esher High (36.3) scored more points than the Surrey average of 36.1 and the national average of 34.9.

But despite showing the biggest increase in average points score in the borough, from 32.8 last year to 33.9 this year, Rydens still fell below the Surrey figure.

Rydens achieved a significant increase in students’ performance in English with 82% reaching level 5 and above, compared to 63% last year.

Headteacher Mark Jackman said: “I am delighted with the improvement and we intend to improve further still.

“Our maths results were on target for the students we had.

“I was delighted with our English results, which were well above the Surrey and national average.

“We are working hard to improve the quality of teaching and learning and feel that students are very focused on success.

“If you look at improvement from key stage two to four we are above the county average.”

Heathside recorded a tiny decrease on its average score from last year from 38.4 to 38.3.

Vice principal Anne Cullum said: “In summer 2007 Heathside school achieved outstanding Key Stage 3 results for the third year running.

“The results showed that the students had made significant progress since joining the school and from the levels they attained in their Key Stage 2 tests in their primary schools.

Elmbridge secondary schools Key Stage 3 results

“Contrary to national and Surrey trends, boys also performed slightly better than the girls.  This excellent achievement is largely due to the smooth transition the students experience into the school and the high standard of teaching and learning in lessons.”

Esher High and Hinchley Wood both maintained similar scores to last year across all three subjects despite Esher High having the highest number of candidates with special educational needs.

Esher High’s results for English, maths and science all topped 80%, the school’s highest Key Stage 3 results ever. 

English achieved 89% of its students gaining Level 5, with maths and science both achieving 81%.

Headteacher Simon Morris, said: “We are naturally very pleased to have performed so well in the Key Stage 3 tests. 

“On the back of this year’s record-breaking GCSE results, our KS3 performance will give us the encouragement and confidence to achieve even better in the future.  Congratulations must go to the students and staff who have worked so hard to achieve these excellent results.”

Steven Poole, headteacher of Hinchley Wood, saw results of above 85% across the board with 91% of students achieving level 5 or above in English.

He said he was very pleased with the results but added: “The Key Stage 3 curriculum should be about skills base. We are currently doing things in terms of skills learning.

“We are developing young people as more confident and competent learners.

“I think we spend a disproportionate amount of time focusing on specific subjects as the Government is asking us to do.

“And then in Key Stage 4 we cover all subjects.

“The message is we should be getting the right balance.”

First printed in: News & Mail Series