How to read these tables

School particulars

The first part of the tables gives the following details for each school:

• address and telephone number;
• what type of school it is;
• admissions policy (selective, comprehensive, modern, non-selective or, for special schools, not applicable);
• whether the school is mainly for girls, boys or both; and
• the main age range.

Symbols such as , which are explained in Abbreviations and their meanings, provide further information about particular schools.

Background information

These columns provide further information about the schools which parents might find useful. They show:

• the total number of pupils of all ages on the school register on 15 January 1998;
• the total number of pupils of all ages with statements of special educational needs. These statements describe any learning difficulties which pupils have, and specify the extra help or equipment which they need. Around 3% of school pupils nationally have statements;
• the total number of pupils of all ages with special needs, but without statements. These are other pupils registered as having special educational needs but whose schools meet the pupils' needs without a statement; and
• the number of pupils aged 16-18 on the roll of the school. If the school has a sixth form, this gives an indication of its size.

Some pupils with special educational needs are academically able. But schools face challenges in achieving high results for many SEN pupils. The information on the numbers of pupils with SEN in each school helps you take this into account when looking at the school's results.

There may be minor inconsistencies for some schools in these figures for pupil numbers and in the figures on pupil absences. This is because they have been worked out in different ways and serve different purposes.

GCSE and GNVQ results for 15 year-olds

The next part of the tables shows pupils' overall achievements in GCSEs and GNVQs by the time they reach school leaving age. The GNVQs have been combined with GCSEs on the basis of equivalencies between the two sets of qualifications. These equivalencies are shown in two tables on this page.

Which pupils are included?

The information is based on all pupils in each school who were aged 15 at the start of the 1997/98 school year, including pupils of that age who did not obtain GCSEs or GNVQs because they were not entered or did not pass any. All the results achieved by these pupils in 1998 and in earlier years if they took GCSEs or GNVQs when they were younger than 15 are included. The results of some pupils who took exams early and have since moved to a different school or college have been shown against the school where they took their examinations.

Some pupils take their exams later, because of illness, because they are from overseas, or for other reasons. The results of these pupils - aged 16 or over at the start of the 1997/98 school year - are not shown in these columns.

GCSEs

There are 8 GCSE pass grades ranging from A* to G. Pupils may also study for GCSE (Short Courses) in certain subjects. These are of the same academic standard as a full GCSE but have half the content, and are reported in the tables on that basis.

GNVQs

General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQs) are designed to develop knowledge, skills and understanding in broad vocational areas like business, manufacturing and retail and distributive services. They also include key skills in communication, application of number and information technology.

There are 2 levels of GNVQs included in these tables - Foundation level and Intermediate level - and each is awarded a grade of Pass, Merit or Distinction. Part One GNVQs are of the same vocational standard as a full GNVQ but have half the content. Advanced GNVQs achieved by 16-18 year olds are included in the 16-18 tables.

How the results are reported

This part of the tables shows:

• the total number of pupils aged 15 at the start of the 1997/98 school year. This includes pupils who did not attempt or pass any GCSEs or GNVQs;
• the number of pupils aged 15 with statements of special educational needs. Some of these pupils may not take any examinations at all or may take them when they are older. This will affect the school's overall results;
• the percentage of pupils aged 15 who gained five or more 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 pupils aged 15 who gained five or more passes at grades A* to G;
• the percentage of pupils aged 15 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 GCSE or GNVQ subject by the time they reached school-leaving age; and
• the GCSE/GNVQ average point score per 15 year old. This provides a fuller picture of the GCSE and GNVQ achievements of pupils of all abilities. The average point score is calculated by dividing the total GCSE/GNVQ points achieved by all 15 year olds by the number of 15 year olds.

The following table sets out the equivalence of GNVQs to GCSE grades:

The following table sets out how points have been allocated to each GCSE and GNVQ grade to calculate the average point score:

For GCSE (Short Course) grades, the number of points is divided by 2.

For full Intermediate and Foundation GNVQ grades, the number of points is multiplied by 4.

For Part One GNVQ grades, the number of points is multiplied by 2.

GCSE and GNVQ results for pupils in Year 11

Some schools have information on the GCSE and GNVQ results for all pupils in Year 11, regardless of their age. 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 group. This additional information provides a fuller picture of the GCSE and GNVQ results in the school.

For schools which provided the information, the columns show:

• the number of pupils in Year 11 in the 1997/98 school year, regardless of their age; and
• the percentage of those pupils who gained five or more grades A* to C.

GCSE/GNVQ improvement measure

The tables also show each school's results from previous years. From this you can see how the GCSE and GNVQ achievements by pupils have changed over the past 3 years. The columns show the percentage of 15 year-olds who achieved:

• 5 or more grades A*-C; and
• 1 or more grades A*-G

in each of the years 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998.

Progress measure

Some schools have a in the progress measure column. These are the schools whose pupils made more progress between Key Stage 3 of the National Curriculum in 1996 and GCSEs and GNVQs in 1998 than the progress in the majority of schools in the country.

For some schools, "N/A" appears in the column, meaning that a measure of progress is not applicable or not available. This includes special schools or schools with very small numbers of pupils who took Key Stage 3 tests or GCSE/GNVQ examinations.

"N/A" also appears for schools which were not open in 1996, or are independent schools which did not take part in the tests then. For a small number of schools, we could not measure progress because the Key Stage 3 results held centrally are wrong and the problems could not be resolved."

Other specified vocational qualifications for 15 year-olds

The tables also report separately the achievements of pupils in units of approved GNVQs, and full awards or units of approved NVQs, the City and Guilds Diploma of Vocational Education and RSA Initial Awards. The columns show:

• the number of pupils aged 15 taking the courses; and
• the percentage of those 15 year olds achieving all the qualifications or units for which they studied in 1997/98.

Absence record for pupils of compulsory school age

These tables show the levels of authorised and unauthorised absence for day pupils of compulsory school age (5-16).

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 (e.g. 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 relates to pupil absences in the 1997/98 school up to and including Friday 22 May 1998. 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, 'N/A' is 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 foot of each page 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.

Special Schools

Children who need more specialised teaching and facilities may go to special schools. If there are any special schools in the area they are listed separately in alphabetical order.