HOW TO READ THE TABLES

School Particulars

The following background information is shown for each school:

• name, address and telephone number;
• type of school;
• if applicable, the school specialism;
• the admissions policy;
• whether the school is mainly for girls, boys or both; and
• the main age range of the school.

Abbreviations and symbols that appear in this section are explained in the 'Abbreviations and their meanings' section.

Attainment Data

1. The percentage of KS4 pupils achieving 5+A*-C GCSE (and equivalent) including English and maths GCSEs. For this indicator only GCSEs in maths and English (excluding English Literature) are suitable to demonstrate achievement in English and mathematics. This indicator will be included in the Achievement and Attainment Tables from 2006 onwards. Others below may be included as well, depending on views received.
2. The percentage of KS4 pupils achieving 5+A*-C GCSE (and equivalent) including functional English and maths. For this indicator we have included both GCSEs and Level 2 Key Skills in communication and application of number and Basic Skills in literacy and numeracy.
3. The percentage of KS4 pupils achieving 5+A*-G GCSE (and equivalent) including functional English and maths. As above, for this indicator we have included both GCSEs and Level 1 and 2 Key Skills in communication and application of number and Basic Skills in literacy and numeracy.
4. The percentage of KS4 pupils achieving Level 2 in functional English and maths. This records all achievements in both GCSEs and the Level 2 Key Skills and Basic Skills qualifications, regardless of whether the 5+A*-C threshold has been achieved.
5. The percentage of KS4 pupils achieving Level 1 in functional English and maths. This records all achievements in both GCSEs and the Level 1 and Level 2 Key Skills and Basic Skills qualifications, regardless of whether the 5+A*-G threshold has been achieved.

Year on Year Comparisons

For the two indicators which incorporate English and maths achievements into the traditional 5+A*-C indicator, a time series showing a year on year comparison of the results for each school is also shown. Unlike the figures above, this is based on all pupils aged 15 at the beginning of the school year.

Until now the Tables have reported the achievements of pupils in their final year of compulsory schooling (ie aged 15 at the start of the school year). In 2005 we changed the way the Tables are compiled to report at the end of Key Stage 4 instead. This reflects the need for students to study at a pace that best suits their needs. 2005 is the first year in which all the main indicators are based on pupils at the end of KS4 - which, in most schools, will be those students in Year 11. Although most pupils in Year 11 are aged 15 at the start of the school year, because different pupils progress at different rates, some will be younger or older.

So that year on year comparisons can continue to be made, the 5+A*-C time series figures has been calculated on the results achieved by 15 year olds.

The number of pupils aged 15 in 2005 is shown in the Tables.

Data for qualifications other than GCSEs is only available from 2004 onwards, as this is when 'equivalent qualifications' were first included in the Tables. Therefore the time series only goes back two years for the indicator which includes qualifications regarded as functional equivalents to English and maths GCSEs, but dates back 4 years for the indicator which includes just GCSEs.