Optimism despite average GCSE rate
EDUCATION leaders have expressed optimism for the future GCSE results among Runcorn high school students despite the town’s stubbornly low exam results.
Last year, none of Runcorn’s secondary schools achieved higher than an ‘average’ rating with The Department For Education (DfE).
The best results overall were achieved by The Heath, followed by Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy – which had the best score for how much progress students made, then St Chad’s, Sandymoor School, and The Grange.
Progress scores were classed as ‘well below average’ at St Chad’s, Sandymoor and The Grange, where the progress made by pupils was lower than at Ashley High School for pupils with special needs in neighbouring Widnes.
Huge change is under way at all three of the worst performers, with St Chad’s now converting to an academy, The Grange having already done so, and Sandymoor looking to join a multi-academy trust to bolster its performance.
Cllr Tom McInerney (children and families) said the borough has high levels of deprivation –
with the ninth highest number of students at secondary school being eligible for free school meals, and that research has shown that disadvantaged pupils do worse at GCSE.
Despite the gloomy picture Tuesday Humby, Ormiston Academies Trust’s regional director in the North and executive principal at Ormiston Chadwick Academy (OCA) in Widnes, believes Runcorn’s high schools can emulate the success of OCA, which opened after its predecessor The Bankfield was placed in special measures and closed down.
OCA now has a top grade of ‘outstanding’ with the schools watchdog Ofsted, and GCSE attainment and ‘Progress 8’ scores of ‘ well above average’ with the DfE, even overtaking former Times Education Supplement ‘best school in the UK’ winner Wade Deacon.
The picture appears bleak in Runcorn, but Mrs Humby said there is no single factor that shapes how schools do and that she ‘firmly’ believes its results will improve.
Her comments were reflected by Sally Jones, principal at Sandymoor School, who said there is ‘no challenge’ the school will not overcome for its children, adding that there are many factors that contribute to pupil performance.
Mrs Humby said: “As is the case across the country, there are multiple factors which shape the landscape of education in Runcorn and there is never just one factor that holds any school back.
“The area does face its fair share of challenges, but there are also countless opportunities to succeed in equal measure – evidenced by the Chadwick turnaround.
“The barriers for learning will be different for every school and every child and identifying them and then addressing them can range from very straightforward to extremely difficult.
“We have some fantastic school leaders throughout the region, including many new leaders in Runcorn well supported by their partner schools, who are working incredibly hard with their communities to do just that, and to ensure that they are providing the best possible education and life chances for children and young people.
“Runcorn can and will shift its current picture in terms of educational achievement – I firmly believe that.”
Cllr McInerney said: “Halton Borough Council is proud of its students and young people and is committed to ensuring they gain the best start in life.
“The Progress 8 benchmark measure is a relatively new accountability method to measure performance from Key Stage Two until the end of Key Stage Four and was first introduced in 2016.
“Research carried out by NFER recently found that disadvantaged pupils nationally on average achieve half a grade lower in each GCSE subjects than their peers who do not face the same level of economic challenge and disadvantage.
“Halton is identified as the ninth most deprived area nationally based on free school meal eligibility at secondary phase.
“Halton Borough Council and school leaders are working collectively to improve performance.
“Schools work hard to ensure students experience a broad, balanced and enriching curriculum, while raising aspiration for their future.”
Sally Jones, of Sandymoor School, said: “In the context of schools there are always a number of factors which may be causing challenge and these can of course change over time.
“Many of the issues that were the cause of poor outcomes at Sandymoor are now historic.
“We are predicting much improved outcomes moving forwards, we have been able to recruit brilliant specialist staff this year and we are now almost oversubscribed in Year 7. This year we have really reaped the benefits of the support and collaboration that a large multiacademy trust (OAT) can bring and will continue to do so.
“We have a fantastic community that are really behind the changes we have been driving this year and we categorically believe that there is no challenge we cannot and will not overcome for our children.” ● ●