Borough’s A-level results below average

HALTON Council has defended further education in the borough after the latest A-level results showed the borough’s sixth forms achieved the worst results in the region.

Data published by the Office For National Statistics (ONS) showed that Halton’s students scored an average points score (APS) of 28.18, equating to a Cgrade.

Despite marginally better than the previous year’s 28.04 APS, it was still short of the North West and England averages of 31.31 and 32.39 respectively.

The APS for students in statefunded schools was even lower in Halton, on 26.28.

This lagged behind neighbouring areas such as Warrington (31.29), Cheshire East (32.21), Cheshire West And Chester (29.43), Knowsley (27.92), Liverpool (29.77), Wirral (32.05) and St Helens (29.77).

However, the figures only include A-levels taken at institutions in Halton and are therefore misleading as a general representation of how sixth formers from the area overall performed, because many highflyers seek their further education outside the borough.

Cronton Sixth Form College, although on Widnes’s outskirts, is part of the neighbouring Knowsley council area.

Others study for their A-levels out of area at Helsby High, Sir John Deane’s College in Northwich and Priestley College in Warrington.

According to the data, there were 425 Halton sixth formers who took their A-levels last year at establishments inside the borough.

A Halton Borough Council spokeswoman said: “Halton’s A-level average points score grade is the same as in 2016 and we are performing in line with statistical neighbours.

“Within Halton, the two largest post-16 providers are performing in line with regional and national figures and both are judged as ‘good’ by Ofsted.

“In addition, Halton’s vocational average point score is amongst the best of our statistical neighbours.

“This has been the case consistently for several years now and a real success for Halton institutions.”