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| GCSE league tables show schools struggling to adjust to changes | GCSE league tables show schools struggling to adjust to changes |
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| Secondary schools in England continued to struggle to adjust to changes in the timing and structure of GCSEs, with the government’s official league tables showing schools made little headway in improving their results last year. | Secondary schools in England continued to struggle to adjust to changes in the timing and structure of GCSEs, with the government’s official league tables showing schools made little headway in improving their results last year. |
| The revised figures released on Thursday by the Department for Education showed a slight improvement in the headline GCSE pass rate, with 57.1% of pupils at state schools achieving five passes of grade C or higher, including English and maths, compared with 56.6% in 2014. | The revised figures released on Thursday by the Department for Education showed a slight improvement in the headline GCSE pass rate, with 57.1% of pupils at state schools achieving five passes of grade C or higher, including English and maths, compared with 56.6% in 2014. |
| Overall the number of schools falling below the government’s floor targets for GCSE passes fell by just one, to 329 schools nationally – 11% of all mainstream state secondary schools – well above the level of 154 that failed to reach the mark in 2013. | Overall the number of schools falling below the government’s floor targets for GCSE passes fell by just one, to 329 schools nationally – 11% of all mainstream state secondary schools – well above the level of 154 that failed to reach the mark in 2013. |
| The DfE noted that the data identified “a continuing challenge in raising the attainment of white working class boys, who continue to represent one of the lowest performing group of pupils”. | The DfE noted that the data identified “a continuing challenge in raising the attainment of white working class boys, who continue to represent one of the lowest performing group of pupils”. |
| The figures showed a widening gap in attainment by disadvantaged pupils and their peers. In 2015 there was a 28 percentage point gap in the pass rate between the two groups, compared with 27.4 in 2014. | The figures showed a widening gap in attainment by disadvantaged pupils and their peers. In 2015 there was a 28 percentage point gap in the pass rate between the two groups, compared with 27.4 in 2014. |
| Overall, 36.5% of pupils classified as disadvantaged received five good passes including English and maths, compared with 64% of all other pupils. | Overall, 36.5% of pupils classified as disadvantaged received five good passes including English and maths, compared with 64% of all other pupils. |
| A DfE spokesperson said: “The gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers has narrowed since 2011 and more disadvantaged pupils than ever before are reaching the expected standard by the end of key stage four. | A DfE spokesperson said: “The gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers has narrowed since 2011 and more disadvantaged pupils than ever before are reaching the expected standard by the end of key stage four. |
| “But we refuse to accept second best for any young person, which is why we must now focus on extending opportunity for all. We are continuing the Pupil Premium at current rates for the duration of this parliament, providing billions of pounds to support disadvantaged pupils. ” | “But we refuse to accept second best for any young person, which is why we must now focus on extending opportunity for all. We are continuing the Pupil Premium at current rates for the duration of this parliament, providing billions of pounds to support disadvantaged pupils. ” |
| Labour countered by pointing out that the attainment gap was now wider than when David Cameron took office in 2010. | Labour countered by pointing out that the attainment gap was now wider than when David Cameron took office in 2010. |
| “It is deeply concerning that a quarter of a million pupils are in failing secondary schools, and alarmingly the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers has grown for the third year in a row,” said Lucy Powell, Labour shadow education secretary. | “It is deeply concerning that a quarter of a million pupils are in failing secondary schools, and alarmingly the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers has grown for the third year in a row,” said Lucy Powell, Labour shadow education secretary. |
| “Without a doubt we need to support excellent teaching and leadership in all our schools to drive up standards. Yet with chronic shortages of teachers, mounting pressure on school places forcing more and more children into larger class sizes, and a growing inequality in our education system, it is increasingly clear that the Tories are failing on education.” | “Without a doubt we need to support excellent teaching and leadership in all our schools to drive up standards. Yet with chronic shortages of teachers, mounting pressure on school places forcing more and more children into larger class sizes, and a growing inequality in our education system, it is increasingly clear that the Tories are failing on education.” |
| But the performance tables included welcome news for Bethnal Green Academy in east London, with a rare achievement – 92% of its disadvantaged pupils passed the GCSE headline measure, a higher proportion than the 90% of the school as a whole. | But the performance tables included welcome news for Bethnal Green Academy in east London, with a rare achievement – 92% of its disadvantaged pupils passed the GCSE headline measure, a higher proportion than the 90% of the school as a whole. |
| Some 78% of the academy’s pupils are classed as disadvantaged by the DfE, meaning they had been eligible for free school meals or been in care. The school made headlines last year when three of its pupils travelled to Turkey and Syria with the apparent intention of joining Islamic State. | Some 78% of the academy’s pupils are classed as disadvantaged by the DfE, meaning they had been eligible for free school meals or been in care. The school made headlines last year when three of its pupils travelled to Turkey and Syria with the apparent intention of joining Islamic State. |
| Meanwhile, King Solomon Academy, a school run by the Ark academy chain, had another remarkable performance: 95% of its students passed the GCSE headline measure, including 93% of its disadvantaged pupils, for the second year running. | Meanwhile, King Solomon Academy, a school run by the Ark academy chain, had another remarkable performance: 95% of its students passed the GCSE headline measure, including 93% of its disadvantaged pupils, for the second year running. |
| The school, in north-west London, had 75% of its students sitting GCSEs classed as disadvantaged. | The school, in north-west London, had 75% of its students sitting GCSEs classed as disadvantaged. |
| Bolton Muslim girls’ school also achieved remarkable results, with 84% of its disadvantaged pupils passing the government’s benchmark, at a higher rate than the 83% pass rate for the school as a whole. | Bolton Muslim girls’ school also achieved remarkable results, with 84% of its disadvantaged pupils passing the government’s benchmark, at a higher rate than the 83% pass rate for the school as a whole. |
| The schools minister, Nick Gibb, said the latest results meant the government’s programme of transforming struggling maintained schools into academies was bearing fruit. | The schools minister, Nick Gibb, said the latest results meant the government’s programme of transforming struggling maintained schools into academies was bearing fruit. |
| “Today’s results show how far we have come in raising standards, but they also highlight where some pupils are still at risk of falling behind,” he said. | “Today’s results show how far we have come in raising standards, but they also highlight where some pupils are still at risk of falling behind,” he said. |
| “We refuse to accept second best for any young person and we must now focus on extending opportunity for all. This government is giving all young people, irrespective of their background, a fair shot in life and we must not let up the pace of reform now. | “We refuse to accept second best for any young person and we must now focus on extending opportunity for all. This government is giving all young people, irrespective of their background, a fair shot in life and we must not let up the pace of reform now. |
| “Through our focus on delivering educational excellence everywhere and the dedication of our schools, we will tackle those pockets of persistent underperformance so every child fulfils their potential.” | “Through our focus on delivering educational excellence everywhere and the dedication of our schools, we will tackle those pockets of persistent underperformance so every child fulfils their potential.” |
| However, the latest data suggested that academy status is no panacea. Sponsored academies continued to lag behind local authority secondary schools with a 10.2 percentage point gap in GCSE pass rates, unchanged from the previous year. The 261 sponsored academies that have been open for five years or more actually saw a lower pass rate compared with 2014. | However, the latest data suggested that academy status is no panacea. Sponsored academies continued to lag behind local authority secondary schools with a 10.2 percentage point gap in GCSE pass rates, unchanged from the previous year. The 261 sponsored academies that have been open for five years or more actually saw a lower pass rate compared with 2014. |
| Converter academies – usually good or outstanding schools that changed status – continued to improve at a faster rate overall, and boasted a 64.3% pass rate. Maintained schools saw 56% of their pupils pass, while sponsored academies had just 45.8%. | Converter academies – usually good or outstanding schools that changed status – continued to improve at a faster rate overall, and boasted a 64.3% pass rate. Maintained schools saw 56% of their pupils pass, while sponsored academies had just 45.8%. |
| The small number of free schools entering for GCSEs – 20 schools with just 1,100 pupils – had a pass rate of 51.6%, while university technical colleges passed just 37.7% of their 1,200 pupils. | The small number of free schools entering for GCSEs – 20 schools with just 1,100 pupils – had a pass rate of 51.6%, while university technical colleges passed just 37.7% of their 1,200 pupils. |
| The national figures showed that the best performing local authority in the country was the tiny Isles of Scilly, which has one school, followed by the more heavily populated regions of Kingston upon Thames in south-west London and Trafford in Greater Manchester as the best performing in terms of GCSE pass rates. | The national figures showed that the best performing local authority in the country was the tiny Isles of Scilly, which has one school, followed by the more heavily populated regions of Kingston upon Thames in south-west London and Trafford in Greater Manchester as the best performing in terms of GCSE pass rates. |
| The London borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which topped last year’s national table with a pass rate of nearly 74%, this year plummeted to 11th place with a 67% success rate. | The London borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which topped last year’s national table with a pass rate of nearly 74%, this year plummeted to 11th place with a 67% success rate. |
| The worst performing local authority was – again - Knowsley in Merseyside, despite improved results: 37.5% of pupils received five passes, compared with 35.4% last year. | The worst performing local authority was – again - Knowsley in Merseyside, despite improved results: 37.5% of pupils received five passes, compared with 35.4% last year. |
| It was followed by the City of Nottingham, which dropped two percentage points to 42%, and Blackpool. | It was followed by the City of Nottingham, which dropped two percentage points to 42%, and Blackpool. |
| The figures also suggest a lack of enthusiasm for the government’s English baccalaureate, or EBacc, with the number of pupils taking the mix of GCSE subjects qualifying for the EBacc having gone backwards compared with 2014. | The figures also suggest a lack of enthusiasm for the government’s English baccalaureate, or EBacc, with the number of pupils taking the mix of GCSE subjects qualifying for the EBacc having gone backwards compared with 2014. |
| The education secretary, Nicky Morgan, has said she expected all students starting GCSEs from 2018 to be entered for EBacc subjects. Last year she announced punitive measures – including extra scrutiny by Ofsted inspectors and league table downgrades – as consequences for schools failing to enrol 90% of pupils in the EBacc. | The education secretary, Nicky Morgan, has said she expected all students starting GCSEs from 2018 to be entered for EBacc subjects. Last year she announced punitive measures – including extra scrutiny by Ofsted inspectors and league table downgrades – as consequences for schools failing to enrol 90% of pupils in the EBacc. |
| Next year’s changes to the league tables will see the current headline measure replaced with more sophisticated measures of progress and attainment across eight subjects, with five of the eight to be the EBacc core of English, maths, sciences, languages, and history or geography. | Next year’s changes to the league tables will see the current headline measure replaced with more sophisticated measures of progress and attainment across eight subjects, with five of the eight to be the EBacc core of English, maths, sciences, languages, and history or geography. |
| The new league table may spur more schools to adopt EBacc subjects, although many report that a shortage of teachers makes it difficult to add foreign languages. | The new league table may spur more schools to adopt EBacc subjects, although many report that a shortage of teachers makes it difficult to add foreign languages. |
| However, the figures also showed what the DfE called a milestone for A-levels, with more than half of all subjects entered being in the “facilitating subjects” preferred by universities. | However, the figures also showed what the DfE called a milestone for A-levels, with more than half of all subjects entered being in the “facilitating subjects” preferred by universities. |
| The A-level league tables were topped by a familiar mix of selective grammar schools and independent schools. | The A-level league tables were topped by a familiar mix of selective grammar schools and independent schools. |
| St Paul’s Girls’ school in London, Queen Elizabeth’s school in Barnet, north London, and Magdalen College school in Oxford all saw more than 80% of their pupils achieve grades of AAB at A-level, including at least two facilitating subjects. | St Paul’s Girls’ school in London, Queen Elizabeth’s school in Barnet, north London, and Magdalen College school in Oxford all saw more than 80% of their pupils achieve grades of AAB at A-level, including at least two facilitating subjects. |
| Colyton grammar school in east Devon again topped the national tables based on average A-level point scores per pupil. | Colyton grammar school in east Devon again topped the national tables based on average A-level point scores per pupil. |