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GCSE results prove success of sponsored academies, says government GCSE results set to accelerate plan to turn secondary schools into academies
(about 1 hour later)
The government is claiming proof of success for its breakneck programme of turning secondary schools into sponsored academies as league tables appear to show these schools generating more rapid improvements in results than the overall average. The government's breakneck programme of turning secondary schools into academies looks set to accelerate further after increased minimum targets for GCSE passes saw the number of schools deemed to have failed almost double inside a year.
GCSE results for more than 3,000 secondary schools and colleges in England show that the proportion of students reaching the designated benchmark performance of at least five grades C or higher, including English and maths, rose by 3.1 percentage points in academies sponsored by, for example, a charitable trust or another school. This compared with an overall rise of 0.6 percentage points. GCSE results for more than 4,000 state and private secondary schools and colleges in England showed there were 195 schools where fewer than 40% of pupils reached the benchmark level of at least five grades C or higher, including English and maths.
There were nonetheless some challenging statistics for ministers within the data, not least that well over 160,000 pupils remain in schools that are failing to meet government GCSE targets. A total of 195 schools, with a combined roll of around 167,000, did not reach the expected standard of at least 40% of GCSE pupils getting the five good grades, a target raised from 35% last year. However, this was an improvement on 2011 when, using the 40% target, 251 schools would have failed to reach it. While this was lower than the equivalent figure of 251 for 2011, the minimum standard has gone up from 35%, which only 107 schools did not reach.
Analysis of A-level results, also released in the Department for Education (DfE) annual data, showed considerable variance in performance. The higher target means the 195 schools will now be targeted for takeover by academy chains, a move the Department for Education says brings improved results. This argument received some backing in the latest GCSE figures, which showed the proportion of students reaching the five good GCSEs mark rose by 3.1 percentage points in sponsored academies, as against a national rise of 0.6 percentage points.
A new set of figures this year showed the numbers of students at each institution getting at least two As and one B in "facilitating" subjects, the type of A-levels generally preferred by top universities to select entrants. The data showed just over a quarter of all schools and colleges, around 600, did not have a single pupil reaching this standard. There was, however, some worrying data in the parallel figures for A-level results, also released in the DfE.
A new set of figures this year showed the numbers of students at each institution getting at least two As and one B in "facilitating" subjects, the type of A-levels identified by the Russell Group bloc of leading universities as their preferred routes to entry. These are maths and further mathematics, English literature, the three sciences, geography, history and languages.
The data showed just over a quarter of all schools and colleges, around 600, did not have a single pupil reaching this standard.
The DfE, however, focused on the perceived success of sponsored academies, of which there are 600 throughout England, the majority of them secondaries.The DfE, however, focused on the perceived success of sponsored academies, of which there are 600 throughout England, the majority of them secondaries.
The figures showed "further evidence of the great success of the academy programme in turning around our weakest schools", a DfE spokesman said. "This shows we are right to continue to support the sponsored academy programme. These brilliant sponsors have a track record of arresting decline, and then reversing it."The figures showed "further evidence of the great success of the academy programme in turning around our weakest schools", a DfE spokesman said. "This shows we are right to continue to support the sponsored academy programme. These brilliant sponsors have a track record of arresting decline, and then reversing it."
Some sceptics say certain academies improve their figures by taking advantage of the ability to set their own admissions criteria and so cherry-picking more able pupils. This claim was supported by an independent report into academies earlier this month, which said it had heard evidence of some academies "finding methods to select covertly", for example by holding social events for prospective parents or asking them to fill in lengthy forms. The report, headed by Ofsted's former chief inspector Christine Gilbert, said: "Such practices can enable schools to select pupils from more privileged families where parents have the requisite cultural capital to complete the [form] in ways that will increase their child's chances." Some sceptics say certain academies improve their figures by taking advantage of the ability to set their own admissions criteria and so cherry-picking more able pupils. This claim was supported by an independent report into academies earlier this month, which said it had heard evidence of some academies "finding methods to select covertly", for example by holding social events for prospective parents or asking them to fill in lengthy forms. The report, headed by Ofsted's former chief inspector Christine Gilbert, said such methods could "enable schools to select pupils from more privileged families where parents have the requisite cultural capital".
Away from the political claims, the data most keenly scrutinised by parents will, of course, be individual results in schools and colleges. However, any effect of this would be likely limited in the current league tables given that most GCSE pupils would have joined sponsored academies when they were still under local authority control.
The largest teachers' union, the NASUWT, said the tables were being used for "another round of denigration of schools and teachers by the government".
Chris Keates, the union's general secretary, said: "Today's figures show that even on the basis of the government's flawed measures, the overwhelming majority of schools are securing the highest levels of attainment for the young people they teach. They should all be congratulated.
"No one is complacent. Everyone recognises that there is more to be done to ensure that the best is being achieved for every child, but the government's approach of manufacturing deficiencies to seek to justify its flawed education policies, rather than celebrating success is counter productive and divisive."
Away from the political claims, the data most keenly scrutinised by parents will, of course, be individual results in schools and colleges, and in particular geographical areas.
There was huge variation across England is exemplified by the difference between the top-performing local authority, Kensington and Chelsea, where 79.6% of students attained the five good GCSE standard, and Knowsley on Merseyside where the equivalent figure was 40.9%.
The top of the tables was, as ever, dominated by schools which select their intake. At the very top for GCSE results was Colyton grammar school in Devon, where all of its 117 GCSE pupils got at least five grades C or higher, including English and maths.The top of the tables was, as ever, dominated by schools which select their intake. At the very top for GCSE results was Colyton grammar school in Devon, where all of its 117 GCSE pupils got at least five grades C or higher, including English and maths.
The most improved school was Trinity high school and sixth form centre in Redditch, Worcestershire, which has seen the proportion of its pupils hitting this benchmark go from 32% in 2009 to 80% this year.The most improved school was Trinity high school and sixth form centre in Redditch, Worcestershire, which has seen the proportion of its pupils hitting this benchmark go from 32% in 2009 to 80% this year.
The headteacher, Marian Barton, said: "Our results were quite stupendous last year and we're expecting to maintain that improvement this year."The headteacher, Marian Barton, said: "Our results were quite stupendous last year and we're expecting to maintain that improvement this year."
The bottom of the table could be misleading, however, with Pate's grammar school in Cheltenham recording no pupils at all getting five good GCSEs. This was because the school used a new English exam which was not included in this measure.The bottom of the table could be misleading, however, with Pate's grammar school in Cheltenham recording no pupils at all getting five good GCSEs. This was because the school used a new English exam which was not included in this measure.