These Tables give information on the achievement and attainment of pupils in secondary schools, and how they compare with other schools in their local authority (LA) area and in England as a whole.
- The Tables show:
- a Key Stage 2 (KS2) to Key Stage 4 (KS4) Contextual Value Added score which measures the progress made by pupils from the end of KS2 to the end of KS4 using their test and exam results. It takes into account the varying starting points of each pupil's KS2 test results, and also adjusts for factors which are outside a school's control (such as gender, mobility and levels of deprivation) that have been observed to impact on pupil results;
- attainment in GCSEs (and equivalent qualifications) including English and mathematics of pupils who were at the end of KS4 in the 2005/06 school year;
- two bar charts which show how the GCSE (and equivalent) results for pupils in each school have changed each year since 2003;
- rates of pupil absence from school, both with permission and without; and
- background information on each school, including its name, address and telephone number.
The information in these Tables only provides part of the picture of each school's and its pupils' achievements. Schools change from year to year and their future results may differ from those achieved by current pupils. Although Contextual Value Added gives a fairer indication of a school's overall effectiveness, attainment measures showing examination results continue to provide important information about school and pupil performance. The Tables should be considered alongside other important sources of information such as Ofsted reports, school prospectuses and School Profiles. Maintained schools, Academies and City Technology Colleges must provide parents with prospectuses on request.
The School Profile was developed after consultation with schools, local authorities, governors, parents and pupils. It includes sections on the school's performance as well as narrative sections for the school to complete under a range of headings, including recent successes and intended improvements. School Profiles are accessible at http://www.schoolsfinder.direct.gov.uk
Parents may be interested to see the Ofsted report for a school. Ofsted school inspection reports can be obtained from Ofsted's website at http://www.ofsted.gov.uk or direct from the school on request.