Bad performance results ‘are not true reflection’
Secondary schools deemed to be performing “well below average” in recently published league tables insist they are not a true reflection of their achievements.
The Department for Education data shows Maidstone’s Invicta Grammar and St Simon Stock among the best-performing in the county, but Cornwallis Academy, Aylesford School and Holmesdale School in Snodland among the worst. This is according to new criteria called Progress 8 and Attainment 8, rather than the percentage of pupils passing five or more GCSEs including maths and English.
Matthew Wright, executive principal at Aylesford School, in Teapot Lane, said: “This measure is flawed because it is an average score that only measures performance in eight subjects from a set list of qualifications that count. If a student is studying a subject not on the approved list, or doing less than eight subjects, they score zero points for that slot and this brings down the Progress 8 average score for the school.”
At Cornwallis, in Hubbards Lane, Linton, Ofsted found a rapid rise in academic results, standards of behaviour and in the quality of teaching.
Head teacher Isabelle LinneyDrouet said: “All the staff have worked tirelessly to make sure pupil are getting the best out of their education.”
Tina Bissett, head at Holmesdale in Malling Road, Snodland, admitted she was a supporter of Progress 8t, but also argued it meant a lot of the school’s improvement - including a rise in the number of A*-C grades, from 26% to 45%, was not recognised.
“It is frustrating that things we have really improved in, that we would have been celebrated for three years ago, now don’t seem to count,” she said.
“I’m aware our results historically have not been good enough, and we’re still not where it needs to be, but we’re doing what we can to improve that.”