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What results are included

Introduction

The examination and vocational qualification results in the tables were checked with, or supplied by, the schools in early October 1995. They do not take account of any grades that were changed after that time. Data on pupils' absence was supplied by the schools concerned, and checked with them in September 1995.

You can find more information in school prospectuses. State schools - including CTCs - must give parents prospectuses if they ask for them. Independent schools normally do this as well. If you are considering whether to apply for a place for your child, you may want to make an appointment to visit the school in question.

GCSE results for 15 year-olds

The first part of the tables shows what each school has helped all of its pupils to achieve in GCSEs by the time they reach school-leaving age. GCSE results are shown for all the pupils in each school who were aged 15 at the start of the 1994/95 school year. All the results achieved by these pupils in 1995 (and in earlier years if they took GCSEs when they were younger than 15) are included as long as the pupils were on the register at the school. The results of some pupils who took exams early will be shown against the school where they took their examinations if they have since moved to a different school or college. Some pupils take their exams later, because of illness or other reasons. The results of these pupils - aged 16 or over at the start of the 1994/95 school year - are not shown in these columns. There are 8 GCSE pass grades ranging from A* to G. The starred A recognises outstanding achievement and was awarded to pupils for the first time in 1994. The columns show the:
  • total number of pupils aged 15 at the start of the 1994/95 school year. This includes pupils who did not attempt any GCSE examinations;
  • percentage of those 15 year-olds who gained five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C - the standard normally needed to prepare them for study for GCE A/AS level examinations or the more advanced vocational qualifications;
  • percentage of 15 year-olds who gained five or more passes at grades A* to G; and
  • percentage of 15 year-olds who gained one or more passes at grades A* to G. From this you can tell how far the school helped all its pupils to achieve the standard expected in at least one subject by the time they reached school-leaving age.

Vocational qualifications for 15 year-olds

These qualifications are often in the form of units towards a GNVQ, in courses such as Business, Leisure and Tourism, or Art and Design. GNVQs are offered by all three vocational awarding bodies - the RSA Examination Board, City and Guilds (C&G) and BTEC. The tables show the:
  • number of 15 year-olds taking the courses; and
  • percentage achieving all the qualifications or units for which they studied in 1994/95.

Not all schools enter pupils for vocational qualifications.

GCSE results for pupils in Year 11

For the first time this year, schools were invited (but not required) to provide information on the GCSE results for all pupils in Year 11 in the school. This is the year group, sometimes known as the "fifth form", in which pupils normally take their GCSEs. Most pupils in Year 11 are aged 15 at the start of the school year. But in some schools there are also younger pupils and older pupils in the year group. For schools which provided the information, the columns show the:

  • number of pupils in Year 11, in the 1994/95 school year, regardless of their age; and
  • percentage of these pupils who gained five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C.

GCE A (Advanced) levels or AS (Advanced Supplementary) equivalents

GCE A level and AS examination results are shown for pupils aged 16, 17 and 18 at the start of 1994/95 school year. These examinations are traditional, general qualifications. AS examinations are equal to half a GCE A level. They are at the same academic standard as an A level, but have half the content. For GCE A levels or AS equivalents, the columns show the:
  • average point score per examination entry for GCE A levels or AS examinations;
  • number of candidates entered for fewer than two GCE A levels or the AS equivalent. These students may be taking a GCE A or AS examination earlier than usual, or may be taking other qualifications, such as vocational qualifications, as well as a GCE A or AS examination;
  • average point score per candidate of those entered for fewer than two GCE A levels or the AS equivalent;
  • number of candidates entered for two or more GCE A levels or the AS equivalent; and
  • average point score per candidate of those taking more than two GCE A levels or the AS equivalent.

Average point scores

When students apply to universities each pass grade they have in GCE A or AS examinations scores a certain number of points. The points for each grade are as follows: 

Grade	GCE A level points	AS points
  A		10		    5 
  B		 8		    4 
  C 		 6		    3 
  D 		 4		    2 
  E 		 2		    1

This system has been used to produce an average point score per examination entry. This gives an average which does not depend on the number of examinations taken by the candidates. The maximum possible point score per entry is 10. For example, this is calculated as follows: 

   Student achieves B grade at GCE A level (8 points)
   and B grade at AS (4 points)                         =  12 points 
   Ten students do the same                             = 120 points
   Number of examination entries                        =  15
                                                          (each GCE A level counts as one entry,
                                                           and each AS as half an entry)
  Average point score per examination entry              = 8
                                                          (120 points in total,
                                                           divided by 15 entries)

This system has also been used to produce an average point score per candidate 

   Student achieves B grade at GCE A level (8 points)	
   and B grade at AS (4 points)                          =  12 points
   Ten students do the same                              = 120 points
   Average point score per candidate              = 12 points
                                                           (120 points in total,
                                                             divided by 10 students)

16 to 18 year-olds studying towards specified advanced vocational qualifications

For specified advanced vocational qualifications, the tables show the:
  • number of candidates in their final year of study for an Advanced General National Vocational Qualification (Advanced GNVQ), a BTEC National qualification (Certificate or Diploma), or the City and Guilds (C&G) Diploma of Vocational Education at National level; and
  • percentage of candidates achieving these qualifications.

Advanced GNVQs are broadly equal to two GCE A levels. BTEC National Diplomas and Certificates and the C&G Diploma of Vocational Education at National level are also similar in standard to GCE A levels. These are qualifications which can lead to higher education or employment. The columns show the number of 16 to 18 year-olds in the final year of study for these qualifications in 1994/95, and the percentage of those students who gained the qualifications. Not all schools enter pupils for vocational qualifications.

International Baccalaureate

A few schools offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. The results show:

  • number entered; and
  • percentage achieving the qualifications.
    • Absence record for pupils of compulsory school age Authorised absence is absence with permission from a teacher or other authorised representative of the school. This includes instances of absence for which a satisfactory explanation has been provided (eg illness). Unauthorised absence is absence without permission from a teacher or other authorised representative of the school. This includes all unexplained or unjustified absences.

The information in the tables covers day pupils of compulsory school age, that is aged 5 to 16 only, and relates to pupil absences in the 1994/95 school year up to and including 26 May 1995. Boarding pupils are not included. The first column shows the number of day pupils in this age range. The second and third columns show the percentage of half days missed as a result of:

  • authorised; and
  • unauthorised absence.

The figures show the percentage of the total teaching time missed by pupils of compulsory school age.

If we have not received complete information from a school, the words NIR (No information received) are printed in the relevant columns. In the case of boarding schools with no day pupils, the words NA (Not applicable) are printed. In the case of schools which are part-boarding, the published statistics relate only to the school's day pupils and may not represent the levels of absence in the school as a whole.

Local and national averages

The top of each table shows the:

  • average figures for all state schools in each local education authority area, including special schools and CTCs; and
  • average figures for all schools in England including independent schools.

You may wish to compare the results of individual schools with these local and national averages.

 

 
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