School is performing better than expected
New website gives parents access to key statistics
Parents can now access easy to read information about their child’s school as a revamped website reveals Cathkin High School is out-performing other schools operating in a similar environment.
Statistics published on the updated Parentzone website reveal that across all areas of assessment, the school has surpassed its virtual comparator.
A tool used to examine a school’s performance, the virtual comparator sets out results which a ‘virtual school’ with the same demographics and level of deprivation has produced.
It takes into account social challenges to effectively level the playing field between more affluent and poorer schools.
Parentzone shows that for the 2014/15 school year, 94 per cent of Cathkin’s school leavers went on to a positive destination, such as college, university, work and apprenticeships.
For its virtual comparator, the result was 91 per cent.
When looking at exam results, 80 per cent of pupils achieved SCQF level four ( similar to the former standard grade) or more in numeracy and literacy; for the comparator it was 77 per cent.
A further 52 per cent achieved SCQF level five (Higher) or more in numeracy and literacy; for the comparator it was 49 per cent.
The results were displayed alongside demographics for Cathkin High School, which revealed 40 per cent of the school leavers in 2014/15 came from the most deprived social category recognised by the Scottish Government.
With social deprivation graded one to five, with one being the most deprived, Parentzone revealed a large number of youngsters attending Cathkin live in poverty.
The demographics were very similar to students attending Trinity High School.
At this school, 96 per cent of school leavers went on to a positive destination, above its virtual comparator of 92 per cent.
However Trinity’s exam results fell marginally behind the comparator.
Eighty-three per cent of pupils achieved SCQF level four or more in numeracy and literacy; for the comparator it was 85 per cent.
At SCQF level five or more 54 per cent of students excelled in numeracy and literacy; for the comparator it was 57 per cent.
At Stonelaw High School - which has much fewer young people from the most deprived areas - a much higher number, 65 per cent, of students achieved SCQF level five or more in numeracy and literacy. This is 11 per cent more than Trinity and 16 per cent more than Cathkin.
At level four all three schools achieved largely similar results - Stonelaw with 84 per cent, Trinity with 83 per cent and Cathkin with 80 per cent.
Stonelaw High’s comparator however expected an 88 per cent pass rate at level four in numeracy and literacy.
Jim Gilhooly, executive director of education resources, said: “The council was particularly pleased with the percentage of school leavers in positive destinations in 2014/ 15, which was at the highest level recorded in the last five years and slightly above the national level. Every young person who is not in a positive destination is known to staff and a range of supports are available to help them make the transition into the world of work or further education.”
He added: “South Lanarkshire Council supports the presentation of data on the Parentzone website. It presents data in a way that helps to give parents a view of how schools are responding to and meeting key challenges and supporting the needs of all learners.
“However, to fully understand how well a school is doing, it is important to consider a range of different information from various sources and to reflect on the specific context of each school.
“The information provided on Parentzone Scotland adds to what is already provided by schools in their handbooks and websites, as well as through their regular communications with parents.”