MORE INFORMATION

THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM

Pupils aged 5 to 16 in state schools must be taught the National Curriculum. This is divided into four 'Key Stages' that generally depend on children's ages.

National Qualifications Framework

The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) sets out the levels at which qualifications can be recognised. Only qualifications that have been accredited by the regulatory authority are included in the NQF. These accredited qualifications are subsequently approved by the Secretary of State for use by pupils of compulsory school age. Qualifications approved for use pre-16 include general, vocational and occupational categories. The Tables report qualifications at Level 2, Level 1 and Entry Level recognised under the NQF. The Tables also report achievements in AS qualifications taken early.

Counting a wider range of qualifications

The Tables, prior to 2004 only counted GCSEs and GNVQs in the performance indicators. In order to report a wider range of qualifications, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), assigned figures to all qualifications approved for use pre 16 - on a scale equivalent to GCSEs. These are based on the relative challenge of a qualification together with the guided learning hours that a qualification requires.

Each qualification has been assigned a threshold contribution figure expressed as a percentage as well as a point score.

5 GCSEs at A*-C (and equivalent) contributes 100% to the Level 2 threshold.

5 GCSEs at A*-G (and equivalent) contributes 100% to the Level 1 threshold.

Using this formula, a GCSE A*-C is equal to one fifth, or 20% of the threshold because the GCSE is assigned a Level 2 threshold contribution of 20% by QCA. In the same way, all qualifications included in the Secondary School Achievement and Attainment Tables have been assigned a percentage contribution to the threshold. The table below shows, as a guide, a few examples of qualifications and their threshold contribution and points allocation. These are used alongside the point scores and threshold contribution of all other approved qualifications to calculate the performance indicators published in these Tables.

The table below shows an intermediate GNVQ as worth 80% of the Level 2 threshold and is therefore equivalent to 4 GCSEs. The 196 points for this qualification is used in the calculation of the average point score and the value added measures.

The full range of qualifications approved for use with pupils of compulsory school age, including the threshold contribution and point scores, is available from the QCA website www.openquals.org.uk

Entry Level qualifications are below Level 1 (grade G at GCSE) and represent the first tier of the NQF. Entry Level qualifications are aimed at Key Stage 4 pupils, in particular those with SEN. The Entry Level qualifications are assigned a point score but do not contribute towards the Level 2 or the Level 1 threshold.

Adjustments to number of pupils on roll

The results for some schools have been adjusted. Some schools requested that pupils recently admitted from overseas with little or no English be discounted from the figures. This has been agreed where the pupil was admitted to the school in the 2003/04 or 2004/05 school year from outside the United Kingdom and their first language is not English. The Government accepts that these pupils are unlikely to be able to show what they can do in examinations until they have improved their English language skills and are more familiar with the school curriculum in this country.

Some schools have had their results adjusted if they admitted a pupil who was permanently excluded from another school in the 2003/04 or 2004/05 school year. Pupils admitted to a maintained school following permanent exclusion from another maintained school are not counted in the number of pupils at the end of KS4 on roll, but any results achieved by these pupils do contribute towards the school's figures. This is part of the Government's policy to encourage schools to admit pupils permanently excluded from elsewhere so that they can continue their education.