Widespread variation found in Hampshire schools' performances under new system

Some schools in the county are performing well while others are struggling to meet key targets, according to the latest league tables released by the Department for Education (DfE).

Changes have been made to the annual performance tables following major government reforms.

In previous years, the DfE data focused on the proportion of pupils at each mainstream primary school in England who achieved at least five C grades at GCSE, including English and maths.

That performance indicator has now been replaced with new headline measures, including Attainment 8 and Progress 8.

Progress 8 looks at the progress a pupil makes from the end of primary school to the end of secondary school, comparing their results with the achievements of others who have the same prior attainment.

Attainment 8 measures the achievement of a pupil across eight qualifications, including maths and English.

The new system also examines the percentage of pupils attaining the English Baccalaureate (EBacc). To achieve the EBacc, students must score at least a C grade at GCSE in English, maths, science, history or geography and a language.

This year, the government has said that secondary schools will be classed as under-performing if its Progress 8 score is below -0.5, and the upper band of the 95% confidence interval is below zero.

Fareham Academy, Cantell School and Bitterne Park Schools have achieved a Progress 8 score of 0.30, 0.31 and 0.02 respectively.

But many others have been handed minus figures including Chamberlayne College (-0.72), Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill (-0.25) and Redbridge Community School (-0.61).

At St Anne’s Catholic School 84-per-cent of pupils achieved A*-C in both English and maths. This compares with 64% at Bitterne Park School, 36% at Redbridge Community School and 34% at Woodlands Community College.

The percentage of pupils achieving the English Baccalaureate also varies from school to school.

St Anne’s Catholic School is recorded a score of 40% but the figure drops to 15% at Redbridge Community School, 12% at Sholing Technology College and just two-per-cent at Oasis Academy Lord’s Hill. The figure for Hounsdown School in Totton is 24%.

The system is already proving controversial, with a nationwide poll showing almost all teachers believe parents do not understand Progress 8.

Duncan Baldwin, deputy director of policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “Parents are going to struggle to know what this means. I think it’s potentially very confusing.”

But the figures were welcomed by Hampshire County Council, which said GSCE students in the county were continuing to perform above the national average.

Under the Attainment 8 system the average grade attained by Hampshire students was the equivalent of a grade C, whereas the national average was a grade D.

Teenagers studying for the English Baccalaureate also performed above the national average, with 25.9% of students achieving the suite of qualifications against 24.6% nationally.

The county council’s executive member for education, Cllr Peter Edgar, said: “I am delighted that the results reaffirm the academic success of our students – in spite of the change in how a school’s performance is measured.

“Their achievements are testament to their hard work, as well as the top quality education provided here in Hampshire.

“I also wish to thank parents and teachers for the vital role they play in supporting students to achieve their best.

"Opportunities for young people in Hampshire have never been greater, and our students have set themselves up well to pursue higher education, training or employment.”

Today head teachers across Hampshire were studying the new figures and in some cases assessing the implications for their schools.

Jason Ashley, head teacher at Redbridge Community School, said: “Overall we are pleased with our performance across all school performance measures.

“Our English Baccalaureate was 15%, the sixth highest in the city.

“Our average GCSE grade has improved from an E in 2011 to a D in 2016.

“The school’s point score has improved significantly. Our initial Progress 8 score was pleasing but fell in December. As we continue to transform the school to a highly academic one, we are aware that not all of our students fulfilled the Progress 8 slots in the Ebacc section.

“Our entry patterns have seriously deflated our score. However, our Progress 8, based on context, places us at – 0.25. 

“Additionally, we did not offer the grade inflating iGCSE, which is examined at 60% coursework, but rather offered the tougher GCSE English exam where our students have flourished.”

Harry Kutty, head teacher of Cantell School added: “The performance tables are a reflection of lots of hard work from our students, ably supported by a passionate and caring staff team.

“Our Progress 8 score of 0.31 – and 67% achieving a good grade in English and maths – yet again confirms Cantell to be a high performing school in the south east of England.

“I could not be prouder of our community and congratulate students for their efforts and our staff, for their ‘above and beyond care’.”

Susan Trigger, head teacher at Bitterne Park, said: “We are delighted that our work with the basics in English and maths has moved our results forward this year, including a positive Progress 8 score.”

Staff at the Oasis Academies Lord’s Hill and Mayfield were unavailable for comment.

The government said the new figures confirmed the strong progress made by pupils – including the most disadvantaged – in grammar schools.

School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said: “Today’s figures confirm that the hard work of teachers and pupils across the country is leading to higher standards, and for that they should be congratulated. 

“As well as confirming that the number of young people taking GCSEs in core academic subjects is rising, the figures show the attainment gap between disadvantaged and all other pupils has now narrowed by seven-per-cent since 2011. 

“Under our reforms there are almost 1.8 million more young people in good or outstanding schools than in 2010.

“Through our new, fairer Progress 8 measure we will ensure that even more children are supported to achieve their full potential.”