What results are included?

Introduction

The information in this booklet provides only part of the picture of each school's overall achievements.

You can find more information in school prospectuses, governors' annual reports, OFSTED reports and other such publications. 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.

The examination and vocational qualification results in the tables were checked with, or supplied by, the schools in early October 1996. 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 1996.

GCSE results for 15 year-olds

The first part of the tables shows what GCSEs pupils in each school have achieved by the time they reach school-leaving age. GCSE results are shown for all pupils in each school who were aged 15 at the start of the 1995/96 school year. All the results achieved by these pupils in 1996 (and in earlier years if they took GCSEs when they were younger than 15) are included for pupils registered at the school.

The results of some pupils who took exams early and have since moved to a different school or college will be shown against the school where they took their examinations.

Some pupils take their exams later, because of illness, or they are from overseas, or for other reasons. The results of these pupils - aged 16 or over at the start of the 1995/96 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 1995/96 school year. This includes pupils who did not attempt any GCSE examinations;


• the 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;


• the percentage of 15 year-olds who gained five or more passes at grades A* to G; and


• the 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

For the first time this year there are new arrangements for reporting vocational achievements. The tables concentrate on achievements in approved GNVQs and NVQs and related qualifications - the City and Guilds Diploma of Vocational Education and RSA Initial Awards. For GNVQs and NVQs the results include achievements in both full awards and in units towards the full qualification. The tables show:

• the number of 15 year-olds taking the courses; and


• the percentage achieving all the qualifications or units for which they studied in 1995/96.

Not all schools enter pupils for vocational qualifications.

GCSE results for pupils in Year 11

Schools were invited (but not required) to provide information on the GCSE results for all pupils in Year 11. 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 younger and older pupils in this year.

For schools which provided the information, the columns show:

• the number of pupils in Year 11, in the 1995/96 school year, regardless of their age; and


• the 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 1995/96 school year, so long as they were on the register of the school in January 1996.

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.

Results in modular examinations are reported even if pupils are continuing their studies to improve their final grade.

For GCE A levels or AS equivalents, the columns show:

• the average point score per examination entry for GCE A level or AS examinations;


• the 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, taking a GCE AS examination on the way to an A level in the same subject or taking other qualifications, such as vocational qualifications, as well as a GCE A or AS examination;


• the average point score per candidate of those entered for fewer than two GCE A levels or the AS equivalent;


• the number of candidates entered for two or more GCE A levels or AS equivalent; and


• the 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

 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 points
                                          (120 points in total,
                                           divided by 15 entries)

This system has also been used to produce an average point score per candidate. This gives an average which depends on the number of examinations taken by candidates as well as the grades they achieved. 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
 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 columns 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


• the percentage of candidates achieving these qualifications based on work done in the 1995/96 academic year.

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 qualifications can lead to higher education, employment or further training. Not all schools enter pupils for vocational qualifications.

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

For the first time this year, two new columns record the achievements of 16 to 18 year olds in their final year of study for an intermediate GNVQ or similar qualification. Intermediate GNVQs are broadly equal to 4 GCSEs at grades A*-C. The tables show:

• the number of candidates in their final year of study for an Intermediate GNVQ, a BTEC First qualification (Diploma or Certificate) or a City and Guilds Diploma of Vocational Education at Intermediate level; and


• the percentage of candidates achieving these qualifications based on work done in the 1995/96 academic year.

Intermediate GNVQs are broadly equal to four GCSEs at grades A* to C.

International Baccalaureate

A few schools offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. The column shows:

• the number entered; and


• the 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. It relates to pupil absences in the 1995/96 school year up to and including 24 May 1996. 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 day pupils of compulsory school age.

If we have not received complete information from a school, the words 'No information received' are printed in the relevant columns. In the case of boarding schools with no day pupils, the words '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.

Not applicable is also shown against sixth form centres and consortia because they provide courses for students who are above the school-leaving age.

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


• the 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.