Tables show ‘value added’ by borough’s secondary schools

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Government figures show that secondary schools' pupils gain good GCSE passes

Pupils in the majority of the borough’s secondary schools are performing better than predicted – and achieving the third best GCSE results in inner London.

Government figures published last week show that at the age of 16 half of the pupils in the borough’s secondary schools gain at least five good GCSE passes – putting them above the London average and in third place among the 13 inner London boroughs. More than 90 per cent of our pupils gained five or more A*-G grades, which was well above London and national averages

The ‘value added’ measure shows that pupils at a majority of the borough’s eight secondary schools are performing beyond expectations by getting better GCSE results than their attainment in national tests at 14 suggested.

Children at two out of three of our special schools which cater for secondary age pupils also progressed at a faster rate than pupils nationally between the ages of 14 and 16.

Cllr David Williams, deputy for education, said: “These tables give schools a chance to show how they are helping pupils to progress and the ‘value added’ figures give greater recognition to the hard work that goes on. Once again young people in Hammersmith & Fulham secondary and special schools have shown that they can produce very good results, whatever their ability and background. It is thanks to their hard work and the support of their parents as well as the commitment of teachers and governors. We are playing our part in helping schools to maintain this progress as well as ensuring that young people have access to a wide range of educational, sporting and artistic opportunities. We have achieved a lot but there is still much to do to achieve our ambition of reaching and staying well above the national average.”

Pupils at three borough schools are celebrating their best GCSE results in recent years. The percentage of pupils gaining five or more good GCSEs at Phoenix High School rose to 28 per cent – the school’s best-ever result, which builds on significant improvements over the last three years. Phoenix High’s value added score was also very good. Sacred Heart High School and Lady Margaret School both secured their best GCSE results since 1994 – with 89 per cent of Sacred Heart pupils and 97 per cent of Lady Margaret pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades.

William Atkinson, headteacher of Phoenix High School, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the hard work and commitment from staff and students is leading to ever increasing levels of achievement at Phoenix High School. Although these are our best results to date we are extremely confident that the GCSE results of our current year eleven, who will be sitting their exams in the summer, will significantly improve on our figures for the percentage gaining five or more A* to C grades.”

 

January 23, 2005