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A Gazette Publication Wednesday, April 1, 2009
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TOP OF THE CLASS
Primary school league tables
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A Gazette Publication Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Primary School League Tables 2008. . . . . . . .
BLACKPOOL
Delays and controversy THEY are the most talked about exams and league tables ever – but for all the wrong reasons.
Despite many Fylde coast schools showing improvements in their Key Stage Two tests (the tests for 11-year-olds) headteachers have spoken of their mistrust of the entire system.
They say the results give only a “snapshot” of a child’s development rather than a true picture of their progress. One former headteacher even went as far as to say this year’s league tables were “not worth the paper they are written on” after well documented problems in marking last summer’s Sats exams. The league tables – which were due to be published in December – are based on the results of controversial key stage two tests in English, maths and science. An overwhelming number of tests were sent back for re-marking after teaching staff questioned their quality – delaying the publication of league tables by four months. Following the marking delays, ETS Europe, the private outsourcing company hired to administer the tests had its contract terminated. Dr Ken Boston, head of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, was the next to go. He stepped down as an inquiry into the chaos was launched. In the months which followed, the Key Stage Three Sats for 14-year-olds were abolished but the Key Stage Two exams are set to remain for the time being.
Last week teaching unions threatened to boycott the 2010 tests unless an urgent review is carried out. The National Association of Head Teachers and the NUT teaching union say the tests taken by seven and 11-yearolds damage children and schools. They want assessments by teachers instead and an end to league tables based on the 11-year-olds’ results Les Turner, NAHT rep for Lancashire has launched a stinging attack on results. The former head of Freckleton Primary School said: “Any education professional will tell you this year’s league tables are a sham, a ridiculous waste of taxpayer’s money, and not even worth the paper they are written on. “After the disaster last summer with some schools not getting papers back at all, others getting the wrong results and the amount of appeals – the reason they have chosen to publish is beyond me. “Ed Balls, school secretary says that parents’ want them and schools have to be accountable which I can’t disagree with, but what parents need is accurate, valid information about their child’s progress, not this flawed snapshot. “It is a shame this Government will be remembered more for their bombardment of initiatives and the fiasco with the Sats results than their commitment to improving schools and ploughing money into education. “The day Sats and league tables are finally scrapped I will raise a glass of champagne to the politician who has the guts to carry it out.”
ANGRY CRITICISM: Former headteacher Les Turner at Freckleton CE Primary School
Scrap archaic system, says headteacher
ANCHORSHOLME Primary continues to top Blackpool league tables – but the news is being taken with hefty pinch of salt by the school’s head. Figures from the school’s Key Stage Two results show a slight decrease from 2007 with an aggregate point score of 288, down from 291. The figures are based on the performance of children in the Sats tests in maths, English and science, which were taken last summer. The aggregate score, by which schools are ranked, is taken from the percentages of children reaching Level Four in each of the three subjects. The three percentages are then added together to give the score.
Aggregate score out of 300 adding the percentages attained in English, maths and science
Assessment
Despite Anchorsholme’s headteacher Graeme Dow’s continued success in keeping standards high at the Eastpines Drive school, he believes the league table system which he has branded “archaic and inappropriate” should be scrapped in favour of “thorough and accurate” teacher assessment. He said: “I’m very proud of the hard work our children, and children from across the schools in Blackpool, commit to their learning. “Having been head of three Blackpool schools, I know how dedicated the teachers and staff are in our area. “I’m more than happy for schools to be held to account for their effectiveness in the development of children’s learning, but this must reflect the wider achievements of children and not merely scores generated by a fundamentally flawed system of national testing.
Blackpool Top 10
GOOD RESULTS: Megan McCandless, Jordan Stimpson, Cobi Barber and Annie Bradshaw Picture: ROB LOCK “The whole of their achievement is valued, and their schools labelled, by how well they perform in a series of tests taken during a pollen-saturated week in May. “Not only is this system a poor measure of our children’s achievements, but it starves our children of a broad curriculum. “In an effort to jump up the league tables, schools offer a narrow curriculum to cram for the Sats tests.” The school’s contextual value added (CVA) score has also
dropped slightly from last year, showing 99.4 a drop from 100.9. The value of the CVA score is also accepted with some reluctance by the Anchorsholme head however. He said: “CVA does not recognise the significant progress that is made by children who fall below the so called “national standards”. “The contexts themselves are generated by statistics and not real impacts on education, such as high levels of transience.” Mr Dow also delivered a stinging criticism on the administra-
tion of this year’s Sats and branded the marking which “highly inconsistent”. He said: “All of our writing papers had to be re-marked, with a huge majority of marks being increased, some by as much as two levels. “We didn’t receive final marks for English and maths until November and final science marks were not confirmed until February. “Following the debacle, how will anyone be able to trust the validity of the results for 2008 and the subsequent league tables?”
School 2008 Anchorsholme Primary 288 St Bernadette’s RC 285 Kincraig Primary 283 St Nicholas CE 279 Christ The King RC 279 Westcliff Primary 275 Our Lady of the Assumption 274 Norbreck Primary 272 Bispham Endowed CE 269 Hawes Side Primary 269
2007 291 273 272 255 191 276 250 255 273 244
STORIES BY LISA ETTRIDGE AND JULIA BENNETT COMMENT ON THE RESULTS AT www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk
FRONT COVER: Sacred Heart Thornton pupils (from left) Jordan CornallSaunders, Saul Harvey, Molly Moss and Katie Robinson celebrate their success Picture: MARTIN BOSTOCK
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A Gazette Publication Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Primary School League Tables 2008. . . . . . . .
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BLACKPOOL
Rocketing up the league PUPILS at Christ The King Primary are jumping for joy after their school skyrocketed up the league tables.
The Grange Park school showed unprecedented levels of improvement in their aggregate points score leaping from 171 in 2007 to 279.
The figures are based on the performance of Year Six children in the SATs tests in maths, English and science which were taken last summer. The aggregate score, by which schools are ranked, is taken from the percentages of children reaching level four in each of the three subjects. The three percentages are then added together to give the score with 300 being the maximum.
Meteoric
Christ The King attribute their meteoric rise to a particularly strong academic year. The figures place the school not only as the joint fourth highest achieving school in Blackpool – but they also mean they are shown as the most improved school on the Fylde coast for their achievements with a percentage increase of 26 per cent over the last four years. The Bathurst Avenue school has got a new headteacher due to start after Easter and she is delighted with the news. Sarah Smith said: “The results and obvious improvement over the last few years reflect the hard work and commitment of teaching and non-teaching staff, pupils and parents.
“The school has a strong ethos of working together and as the new headteacher of the school I’m keen to develop this even further.
“Christ The King holds the child at the centre of all it does with a high value on the well being of each child as well as their academic achievements.” The school also posted a high contextual value added (CVA) score which placed them in the Fylde coast top 10. The CVA score measures the progress a child makes from beginning primary school at Key Stage One to leaving at Key Stage Two. It is designed to take into account different challenges schools face like socio-economic factors, 100 is considered an average score.
GREATLY IMPROVED: Christ The King pupils (back row, from left) Georgina Garnett, Oliver Bateson, Aliaka Sladkievcz, Adam Stambridge and Megan Kennerley with (front, from left) Abi Lund and Francesca Walker celebrating their success
Christ The King posted an impressive score of 101.5 which puts them above average. Fleetwood’s Charles Saer Community Primary school has also posted a 26 per cent improvement in results over the last four years. The school has also made the top 10 for their CVA score of 101.1. Another Grange Park school is also continuing to flourish in improving the outcome for pupils. Boundary Primary on Dinmore Avenue is the third most improved school in the Fylde in the last four years on the basis of their 2008 results. They have shown an increase of 24 per cent with a CVA of 101.2. Bispham’s Kincraig Primary is also steadily improving with a percentage improvement of 21 per cent in the last four years and a CVA of 101.7.
Picture: ROB LOCK
Best ever stage two results
THE picture is improving at Blackpool primary schools as more than half show improved figures from 2007. Despite the majority of Blackpool headteachers having huge misgivings about the accuracy of this year’s league tables, the picture is a positive one overall. An encouraging 18 out of Blackpool’s 29 primary schools showed improvement or retained the same level in their aggregate score out of 300 in 2008. Blackpool’s improvement is shown particularly well in the table of Top 10 improving schools over the last four years. Blackpool dominates the table with seven schools showing the highest percentage increase out of the whole of the Fylde coast. Similarly, seven Blackpool schools also dominate the table for the Fylde coast’s Top 10 CVA scores with seven schools scoring highest in the levels of progress their children are making.
Most improvement in results over the last four years School
Delighted
The resort’s improving performance has been welcomed by David Lund, executive director of children’s services for Blackpool Council. He said: “Blackpool Council is delighted that once again our schools have raised the bar and achieved the best ever results at Key Stage Two. “This is due to the hard work of teachers, children and families. “I’m very proud of the children in Blackpool who continue to make good progress in their learning.” St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary in Bispham has cause to celebrate as second highest achieving Blackpool school leaping from a score of 273 in 2007 to 285 in 2008. In the last four years the Devonshire
Improved Results
IN FOCUS:Year Two pupils and headteacher Sean O’Hare reflect on their success Picture: ROB LOCK Road school has seen a whopping 19 per cent increase in its aggregate point score and the trend is set to continue. Sean O’Hare, headteacher, believes a focus on the development of the whole child is the key to their success as lifelong learners. He said: “St Bernadette’s School is committed to ensuring that next generation learning is embodied in our use of technology which gives children access to an on-line platform that provides a landscape for that learning, offering personal
pathways and goals. To facilitate this we need outstanding leaders who are passionate about learning, have a high sense of moral value, who provide inspiration through their beliefs and vision and who give worth to every child in their care. “The community capital of the school is high because it is centred around a Catholic family ethos where there are shared values and shared aspirations. “Parents are supportive and share high expectations with the teachers.”
Score
% rise
Christ The King RC 279 Charles Saer Primary 252 Boundary Primary 239 Kingcraig Primary 283 Blackpool Baines Endowed 265 St Nicholas CE 279 St Bernadette’s RC 285 St Cuthbert’s RC 242 Preesall Fleetwood’s Charity 292 Thornton Cleveleys Royles Brook 266
26 26 24 21 20 20 19 19 19 18
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A Gazette Publication Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Primary School League Tables 2008. . . . . . . . . . . .
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FYLDE
Results delight, but head questions need for tests
LEVELS of achievement are being driven up all over the Fylde coast as schools work to raise the outcomes for pupils. League tables aim to show not only how well the children achieved in their Key Stage Two Sats, but also how much the schools are actually contributing to pupils’ progress through the contextual value added score.
Shakespeare Primary school in Fleetwood has shot further up the CVA table which shows the top 10 schools with the highest scores. The primary has scored an impressive 102.6, up from 101.3 in 2007. The improved score puts the school in the top slot as making the most progress with students from when they start in reception to when they sit their Sats at 11. Blackpool’s St John’s Church of England Primary school has risen to second place from third by raising its score from 101.6 in 2007 to 101.7. Kincraig Primary in Bispham has grabbed the third place, leaping three places from sixth in 2007. Boundary Primary school on Grange Park has retained its place in this year’s Top 10, as has Revoe Community Primary. Thames Primary in South Shore has
made seventh place on the table. Headteacher Jean Martin said: “I think our success has been down to believing in the children and the continued hard work of our staff team here at Thames. “We have an inclusive policy here at Thames, but really the hard work is down to the children who come into school wanting to learn. This helps our achievement along.” Despite the CVA table trying to show the school’s input into progress, the league table and Sats system is still viewed with suspicion by many teachers who believe the tables can have a demoralising effect on schools.
Undermines
Lesley Bennett, deputy headteacher at Layton Primary School, said: “Our view is that there should be no Sats at all as it seems an unnecessary bureaucratic process which undermines the ethos of Every Child Matters and the creative curriculum. “Measures of pupil progress and achievement should be in place and information readily available for parents, carers and local authorities so that standards are maintained and can be monitored, but not used in a punitive manner as league tables seem to be. “League tables can be demoralising for pupils, parents and school staff.
HUGELY PROUD: Nathan Kirk, Bethanie Drake, Tielah Ashford and Billy Hindle Picture: MARTIN BOSTOCK Layton’s Sats results were above the national average in all subjects. “We are hugely proud of our pupils and the effort they put in throughout
all of their primary school career. “We would also like to thank parents and carers for the support they give their children.
Artistic approach boosts Ribby-with-Wrea IT is smiles all round at Ribby-with-Wrea Primary School as creative curriculum drives them on in their learning. As all Fylde school’s CVA scores show all are achieving at least 98.4 or higher – they are continually on the look out for new ways to help children enjoy learning and get the best possible start in life. Staff are rising to the challenge of creating a fun and colourful curriculum.
CREATIVE LESSONS: Ribby with Wrea head Amanda Gregory with Nathan Smith, Liam Wainwright, Hermione Bailey and Amy Croasdale
Broad
Acting headteacher Amanda Gregory said: “I’ve only been here a few months, but I’m impressed with the commitment shown by all those involved with the school towards new methods of learning and the drive to improve standards. “The pupils at this school enjoy active learning and a broad and balanced curriculum which takes into account differ-
weeks are a special favourite, particularly as the usually involve dressing up at some point! “This is a happy and high achieving school where children work together in harmony and enjoy their lessons.
“Our strong, caring and hard working ethos is noticed by all who visit. “I’m sure the school will continue to thrive under the leadership of the new headteacher who will be taking up post in September.”
Contextual Value Added Score where 100 is average LEA
CVA
Shakespeare Primary
Wyre
102.6
St John’s CE Primary
Blackpool
101.7
St Annes’ Our Lady Star Of The Sea School posted the highest Fylde score with 100.9, way above the national average.
Kincraig Primary
Blackpool
101.7
Freckleton Strike Lane Primary also scored well with an impressive 100.8 to show how far children progress in their learning between Key Stage One and Key Stage Two when they reach 11.
Picture: MIKE FOSTER ent learning styles and needs. “The children here benefit from a creative curriculum which includes learning through topics such as The Romans or Australia. “Our regular theme
“Learning and achievement is successful when there is a true partnership between school and home.”
Warton’s Holy Family also scored well 100.3 making them third followed by St Peter’s RC Primary in Lytham scoring 100.1 and Ansdell Primary fifth with 100.
School
St Mary and Michael RC Wyre
101.6
Christ The King RC
Blackpool
101.5
Boundary Primary
Blackpool
101.2
Thames Primary
Blackpool
101.2
Assumption
Fylde
101.1
Revoe Primary
Blackpool
101.1
Charles Saer Primary
Wyre
101.1
Our Lady of The
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Primary School League Tables 2008. . . . . . . . . . . . .
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FYLDE
Joy marred by marking fiasco FYLDE’S primary schools are continuing to achieve well, with more than half scoring higher in their Sats results.
South Park school, spoke of her delight at the school’s continued high level of achievement. She also made reference to the reliability of Sats exams as an accurate measuring stick of a child’s progress. She said: “We’re very proud of all our pupils who have achieved so well this year.
This is despite the fiasco with marking Sats exams, which saw many schools returning high numbers of exam papers to be remarked. Lytham Hall Park Primary school topped the Fylde table once again in 2008, maintaining its impressive score of 297, just three marks off the maximum possible score of 300. Despite the positive picture for Fylde schools, many headteachers have expressed their concern about the accuracy of this year’s league tables. Carolyn Vickers, head of the
“The high standards have been due to the wonderful quality of teaching from a dedicated staff who are supported by enthusiastic parents and governors. “It takes great commitment on the part of everyone to maintain standards. “Unfortunately this year there have been many problems associated with Sats and this has highlighted the unreliability of the testing process and league tables. “League tables should be read in the context that they are a potentially unreliable snapshot of a
Twelve of the borough’s 23 primary school were recorded as achieving better marks in their Key Stage Two Sats than in 2007.
BUDDING LEARNERS: Lytham Hall Park pupils in their willow tunnel with eco co-ordinator Carol Wildon Picture: ROB LOCK
Quality
Keeping in touch with school’s motto LANCASHIRE education chiefs have congratulated Fylde and Wyre schools on their continued improvement. As tables show many schools improving or maintaining 2007 figures, teachers have been thanked for their hard work. County Coun Vali Patel, cabinet member for schools, said: “These figures are encouraging and reflect the hard work of the children and teachers. “I’d like to congratulate everyone involved in helping children acquire learning skills and knowledge that will stand them in good stead throughout their school lives and beyond.”
child’s learning.”
Willows School in Kirkham is continuing its success, appearing once again in Fylde’s top 10. The school’s aggregate figure has also maintained its impressive score of 278, which has seen it shoot up one place to fifth highest achieving school. Some schools have seen figures leap up to guarantee a place in Fylde’s top 10. Medlar with Wesham Church of England primary has rocketed 34 points from a score of 250 in 2007 to 284 in 2008 placing it the fourth highest achieving. Likewise Clifton Primary school in St Annes has shot up 22 points giving a score of 265, up from 243 – securing another superb result. St Peter’s Catholic Primary in Lytham also made the top 10 securing sixth place by scoring 276, up 18 points from 259 in 2007.
Fylde Top 10
Aggregate score out of 300 adding the percentages attained in English, maths and science School
2008
2007
Lytham Hall Park Ansdell Primary Our Lady Star of the Sea Medlar with Wesham The Willows RC Kirkham St Peter’s Catholic Lytham CE Clifton Primary Newton Bluecoat Staining CE Primary
297 286 286 284 278 276 271 265 265 264
297 287 281 250 278 259 259 243 265 273
Aggregate
Ansdell Primary School has particular reason to celebrate after it rose from third to joint second place in the Fylde’s top 10 achieving schools based on its aggregate scores. Despite dropping one point from 287 to 286 in 2008, the Lansdowne Road school remains top of the table, along with Our Lady Star Of The Sea Catholic Primary School which rose five points to share top spot. Ansdell Primary staff believe success is down to their focus on all aspects of a child’s development, in particular heavy focus on teamwork. The school recently installed a centenary sculpture which was modelled using casts of children’s hands. Headteacher Richard Redcliffe believes the model is symbolic of
HANDS-ON: Year Six Ansdell Primary pupils (from left) Rosie Coe, Will Tankard, Ben Clowes, Sam Warburton, Connor Murdock and Jessica Slater with the school’s centenary sculpture Picture: ROB LOCK the school’s motto. Like many teachers on the Fylde coast, he also questioned the worth of league tables. He said: “The ethos of our school has always been based on inclusive values, high expectations and standards which are
achieved through doing your best in everything. “Our school motto really does express what the school is about – Together Everyone Achieves More – which spells TEAM. “Any success in any field at any level is always achieved through
knowing that it represents the very best. That is why whatever our position in any league table the achievements of our pupils and staff are always celebrated. “Ansdell Primary School has a proud history of enabling all pupils to fulfil their potential.”
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A Gazette Publication Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Primary School League Tables 2008. . . . . . . . . . . .
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WYRE
All round education key to hitting league bullseye THEY are all smiles at Wyre’s best achieving schools.
Hambleton Primary is top of the class again after every child at the Church Lane school gained at least a Level 4 in each of the three key subjects – English, maths and science.
Phenomenal grades are also being celebrated in two Poulton primary schools, St Chad’s and St John’s RC – which have now bagged joint second place in Wyre’s top 10 for SATs grades. St Chad’s pulled off a remarkable leap from 276 marks out of 300 in 2007 to 297 this year. Ninety-seven per cent of pupils succeeded in getting Level 4 in English while all students gained at least a Level 4 in maths and science. St John’s was able to maintain their impressive 297 out of 300 aggregate score this year. Paying tribute to the hard work of staff and pupils, Bridget Gildert, headteacher of St John’s Primary School, on Breck Road, said: “We are, of course, delighted with our results; our staff and pupils work very hard. “All results are celebrated whether they achieve Level 3, 4 or 5 as we are more concerned with pupils reaching their potential.” But she also insisted there was more to school than SATs and raised the importance of pupils building links with the community. She added: “We aspire to give all our pupils a good all round education
ON TARGET: St John’s RC Primary pupils (from left) Joey Knott, Josh Teale, Emilia Trainor, Grace Carpenter, Megan Evans and Ethan Rowley Picture: ROB LOCK which is wider than SATs results. Standards are not just a Year Six issue, pupils have been here for seven years so they are a whole school success. “We have an excellent, hard working staff who work successfully together. We have very supportive par-
ents who value their children’s education and support school in many, many ways. “We also have an interested and well informed governing body as well as good links with the parish and the local community
“SATs themselves do not tell us anything that the staff don’t already know about the standards pupils are achieving – they just put 11 year olds through a lot of stress to find out what we already know!” Headteacher Pam Birch said: “I’m
Parents’ support adds to high standards THE support of parents is continuing to keep standards high at St Michael’s on Wyre Primary School. Headteacher Cathy Brough is delighted with the results of last year’s Year Six students, who achieved an aggregate point score for maths, English and science of 279 out of 300. The school is ranked eleventh out of the 30 Wyre schools which returned data, despite a slight drop of 21 marks from the 2007 results. She said: “Our group did as well as they could have done and I’m absolutely thrilled with the progress we are continuing to make.
“It’s a fantastic place to spend your week. The school is going from strength to strength.”
Wyre Top 10
Aggregate score out of 300 adding the percentages attained in English, maths and science School
Work
“It’s important to emphasise the fact that Key Stage Two results are actually the result of seven years’ worth of hard work by our school staff.” With a Contextual Value Added (CVA) score of 100.7, the school is still well above average. Mrs Brough added: “Our school is lucky that we have a fantastic team of dedicated teaching and support staff and we couldn’t continue to keep achieving like we do without everybody’s support. “We are also very fortunate that we get a lot of help from parents here, they really are our partners in learning and help our job enormously. “I think the important thing is that we have very high standards here at St Michael’s and when we
delighted and would like to say a big thank you to our whole community – pupils, staff and parents.
BLOOMING GREAT: Pupils at St Michael’s on Wyre Primary School have benefited from dedicated teachers, support staff and parents take on new pupils or new staff, we make sure they keep in with our philosophy.” Like many heads across the country, Mrs Brough also added her voice to the concerns raised about the accuracy with this year’s league tables. She said: “I do have some reservations about
league tables generally, but especially so this year in light of the problems I know a lot of schools experienced with the marking of their SATs papers. “Feelings are running very high. It’s very disappointing that so much emphasis is placed on SATs results as they are just a
snapshot of what the pupils actually achieve. “Luckily for us our parents and local community know that the SATs results do not show the all round development of the children who come here. To me it seems the whole system is flawed.”
2008
Hambleton Primary 300 Poulton St Chad’s CE 297 St John’s RC, Poulton 297 Kirkland & Catterall St Helen’s 292 Preesall Fleetwood’s Charity 292 Sacred Heart, Thornton 286 Shakespeare Primary 285 Poulton The Breck 284 Thornton Primary 283 Poulton Carr Head 280
2007 300 276 297 N/A 261 257 287 286 259 271
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A Gazette Publication Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Primary School League Tables 2008. . . . . . . . . . . .
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WYRE
Top 10 places celebrated INVESTMENT in Fleetwood schools is paying off.
Two of the town’s primary schools are ranked in the Fylde coast’s top 10 schools with the best contextual value added (CVA) scores – which measures the progress made by pupils from the start to the end of their primary education.
Shakespeare Primary, on Manor Road, tops the table with a CVA of 102.6 – the national average is 100. Pupils at Charles Saer Community Primary, on Grange Road, are hot on their heels with 101.1. The school has also made an impressive leap in terms of its Sats grades to 252 out of 300, compared to 238 last year. It shares joint top position in the Fylde coast for the school with the highest percentage increase, 26 per cent, in its aggregate points score over the last four years. Headteacher David Mitchell said: “It’s down to the hard work of the staff and pupils, we are delighted. “We have a good tracking system throughout the school and every pupil is given challenging targets.” Other schools are also determined to raise pupil attainment and are using extra funding to push children to the expected level.
Children at Chaucer Primary School, who took their Year 6 Key Stage 2 Sats in May last year scored 241 out of 300 in English, maths and science, compared to 203 in 2007. This year, the school has received £4,000 from Lancashire County Council to fund one-toone tuition for youngsters who need a little extra help. Peter Gerrish, headteacher at the Chaucer Road school, said: “Ten children are benefiting from two hours a week of one to one tuition for English and maths in preparation for this year’s Sats in May.
Pressure
“There is no doubt Sats put unnecessary pressure on quite young children. “At Chaucer, we work hard to raise pupil attainment to as high a level as possible. “Our results this year will show a significant improvement and I am proud of the hard work put in by staff and children alike. “However, waiting for the publication of a league table only based upon a part of our work with children and families is not helpful. “We look forward to a better way of measuring our success across the whole curriculum and not just on how well pupils do in sitting one battery of tests in one week of the year.”
ONE-TO-ONE: Chaucer headteacher Peter Gerrish with (from left), Jenny Salthouse, teacher Caroline Cranston, teacher Kirsty Bell, and Callum Dickinson Picture: BILL JOHNSON
16Wyre schools top last year’s success That’s write
WYRE pupils have put their heart and soul into making great strides in their exam results. Sixteen schools across the area can boast an improvement in Sats grades compared to last year. Students from Sacred Heart Primary School are celebrating a massive leap in its aggregate score from 257 out of 300 in the three key subjects in 2007 to 286 this year. The announcement of their impressive grades tops a fantastic year for pupils and staff, who were praised for their hard work following an Ofsted inspection, which classed the school as “good with many outstanding qualities”.
FANTASTIC YEAR: Jordan CornallSaunders, Saul Harvey, Molly Moss and Katie Robinson react to their school’s results
Pleased
Paul Eaton, headteacher at the Heys Street school in Thornton, said: “We are delighted that the hard work of the children, staff and parents was rewarded by such outstanding achievements in terms of results. “But more importantly, we are pleased with the outstanding development of the children into wonderful young people during their time at Sacred Heart. “We have watched children develop in terms of confidence and ability. “We are very proud of our fantastic children and the ongoing hard work and dedication of our staff which contributed to these outstanding results, following our excellent Ofsted report.” Sacred Heart was sixth in Wyre for its Sats
Picture: MARTIN BOSTOCK grade and the school’s contextual value added (CVA) rose to 100.4 this year – 100 is the average. There were notable improvements in the development of the children’s maths skills with a CVA of 101.4, ranking the school in the top 16 per cent in the country. Another Thornton school ranked in Wyre’s top ten for Sats
scores is Thornton Primary School, on Heys Street. Last year’s Year 6 pupils achieved 283 out of 300 in their maths, science and English exams, compared to 259 last year. The school is also above average in its CVA mark with 100.5
way to do it!
ROYLES Brook Primary is making reading fun to better pupils’ results. The Thornton school saw the biggest improvement in Sats scores out of all schools in Wyre this year, compared to 2007. Aggregate mark for English, maths and science rose from 209 out of 300 to 266. Beverly Hull, headteacher at the Marsh Road school (inset above), said: “We are delighted with the improvement which is the result of a lot of hard work from students, staff and parents. While we are conscious that each year group is very different, we are working towards keeping that standard up.” Strategies have been put in place, with a major focus on improving reading standards which has led pupils to creating their own published book – We Are Writers. Around 160 budding writers were involved in production of the paperback, which parents were able to buy to keep as a memento of their child’s hard work. Mrs Hull added: “We have encouraged staff to have dedicated reading times with the pupils and we have produced our own book. All the junior children were involved.”
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A Gazette Publication Wednesday, April 1, 2009
NA 262 271 250 200 243 268 225 200 289 293 293 282 286 248 246 NA NA 285 300 247 246 289 246 296 300 256 NA 295 NA 229 256 276 270 245 NA 254 NA NA
32% 27% 21% 22% 65% 36% 46% 18% 25% 33% 31% 54% 31% 26% 18% 53% 43% 29% 22% 17% 21% 31% 26%
95% 83% 82% 78% 75% 84% 85% 82% 83% 61% 91% 97% 78% 90% 82% 93% 62% 79% 75% 75% 85% 92% 93%
62% 33% 21% 26% 40% 40% 31% 9% 38% 27% 46% 43% 22% 26% 24% 49% 29% 36% 25% 25% 32% 36% 37%
Average points score
level 5
95% 83% 85% 83% 85% 83% 77% 73% 83% 97% 89% 100% 79% 94% 91% 95% 71% 86% 78% 83% 91% 81% 89%
level 5
level 4
37 30 34 23 20 70 13 11 24 33 35 37 58 31 34 43 21 14 36 12 34 36 27
59% 53% 38% 30% 65% 57% 38% 45% 46% 27% 63% 62% 40% 58% 44% 70% 43% 50% 42% 8% 62% 39% 41%
29.8 28.2 27.9 27.6 29.3 28.9 27.9 27 28.3 27.5 29.1 30.1 27.3 28.9 27.9 30.2 27.1 27.7 27.6 27.2 28.8 28.4 28.6
level 4
% of pupils gaining Level 4 & 5
97% 87% 97% 100% 95% 96% 92% 82% 83% 88% 91% 100% 84% 100% 91% 98% 81% 79% 92% 100% 100% 92% 96%
2006
2007
2008
NA 276 277 266 160 232 266 251 214 294 277 300 300 280 263 259 NA NA 266 285 258 268 272 272 300 268 217 NA 294 NA 213 NA 248 271 256 NA 214 NA NA
NA 264 273 257 238 203 274 209 165 289 297 225 300 NA 263 242 NA NA 271 276 286 261 257 287 286 297 213 NA 300 NA 227 246 252 279 259 NA NA NA NA
NA 261 269 252 252 241 251 266 203 274 265 237 300 292 266 276 NA NA 280 297 284 292 286 285 268 297 224 NA 279 NA 245 262 276 268 283 NA 256 NA NA
< 99.9 100.4 100.1 101.1 99.7 99.7 98.1 98.4 99.5 100 98.7 100 100.7 99.2 100.9 < < 100.1 100.4 100.1 100 100.4 102.6 101.6 99.9 99.1 < 100.7 < 99.3 98.7 100.1 99.5 100.5 < 100.6 < <
0 2.20% 1.10% 0.70% 3.90% 6.30% 0.90% 1.60% 6.40% 0.00% 0.70% 0.00% 0.70% 0.00% 3.50% 2.50% 2.10% 0.00% 0.00% 1.50% 2.00% 1.80% 1.40% 1.10% 0.90% 0.60% 3.20% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 2.60% 0.00% 0.60% 0.50% 2.50% 0.00% 0.00% 3.00% <
100 99.2 99.1 99 100.8 99.8 100.3 98.4 99.2 99 99.8 99.4 98.9 99.8 98.9 100.9 99.8 99.8 98.6 98.9 100.1 99.8 99.7
0.50% 3.10% 2.00% 0.00% 3.10% 1.90% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.50% 0.50% 0.00% 1.40% 1.20% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 2.20% 3.40% 0.00% 1.70% 1.50% 1.40%
Aggregate score out of 300
2005 275 228 269 290 221 276 288 NA 245 228 237 289 241 257 239 285 288 283 247 245 284 234 278
2006 295 254 247 264 232 268 271 NA 232 274 246 297 242 246 257 284 295 NA 259 233 260 250 213
2007 287 250 243 271 269 288 236 NA 245 259 259 297 242 250 265 281 282 250 266 242 259 273 278
2008 286 253 265 261 255 263 254 236 250 245 271 297 241 284 265 286 214 243 244 258 276 264 278
6.00% 7.40% 8.50% 4.70% 6.60% 8.20% 8.70% 12.50% 7.10% 4.10% 5.60% 2.80% 8.00% 3.30% 5.70% 2.20% 5.80% 6.20% 7.70% 13.80% 8.10% 7.40% 5.20%
Non-statemented
Special needs
16.70% 6.80% 8.80% 10.10% 15.30% 12.30% 8.10% 4.10% 14.60% 2.10% 6.50% 7.80% 9.00% 11.50% 9.90% 7.80% 3.80% 6.10% 2.50% 0.90% 9.30% 5.60% 6.70% 7.50% 6.30% 5.40% 6.40% 12.00% 7.10% 2.40% 10.30% 7.60% 4.10% 2.60% 16.30% 18.20% 16.50% 13.50% 20.00%
3.00% 4.50% 14.70% 25.10% 8.30% 27.30% 27.10% 21.90% 16.40% 15.40% 20.60% 17.50% 12.70% 14.90% 27.70% 16.60% 10.00% 7.80% 16.50% 10.30% 10.90% 20.90% 11.60% 26.00% 5.60% 29.30% 24.00% 19.90% 8.70% Non-statemented
< 29.2 28.3 28 27.8 26.3 27.8 27.8 25.4 28.6 28.6 26.9 30.1 30.1 28.3 28.9 < < 30 31.2 29.8 29.4 29.5 30.1 30 30.4 26.6 < 29.9 < 27.2 27.3 28.9 29.1 29.1 < 28.1 < <
1.10% 6.50% 4.80% 10.80% 4.60% 18.70% 11.80% 11.60% 7.10% 6.70% 7.80% 3.50% 3.40% 9.70% 21.30% 5.20% 6.30% 9.80% 8.50% 2.60% 3.60% 5.60% 4.30% 6.00% 10.20% 3.20% 11.00% 10.00% 7.10%
16.70% 6.10% 11.80% 2.40% 6.90% 6.90% 3.80% 13.00% 13.50% 7.10% 16.80% 3.30% 4.80% 3.80% 6.20% 11.20% 11.50% 9.10% 6.20% 4.70% 1.80% 8.80% 7.40% 13.60% 4.00% 4.90% 13.50% 12.00% 6.10% 12.20% 9.10% 9.10% 4.40% 6.00% 15.50% 15.90% 6.80% 5.40% 0.00% Non-statemented
2005
< 61% 47% 43% 43% 22% 39% 23% 13% 53% 60% 16% 54% 67% 48% 41% < < 66% 88% 50% 63% 64% 90% 76% 65% 24% < 79% < 37% 23% 48% 59% 55% < 44% < <
SCIENCE
MATHS
ENGLISH
1.10% 2.20% 2.20% 3.60% 7.40% 6.60% 4.00% 8.00% 2.10% 2.60% 1.10% 5.50% 2.50% 4.10% 7.40% 6.40% 2.60% 1.20% 3.60% 1.70% 1.10% 5.20% 3.90% 1.10% 0.00% 2.40% 5.20% 4.90% 1.10%
Special needs
level 4 level 4 < 95% 100% 87% 89% 90% 89% 89% 67% 97% 95% 84% 100% 92% 98% 91% < < 97% 100% 100% 100% 95% 98% 96% 100% 76% < 93% < 87% 92% 98% 91% 97% < 94% < <
99.4 100.8 100.7 101.7 99.9 101.2 101.5 99.5 100.6 98.7 98.4 101.7 100.3 100.1 99.8 99.2 100 101.1 101.1 99.7 100.8 100 100.2 99.7 99.7 99.8 101.2 99.7 99.2
Statemented
level 5 < 52% 19% 43% 20% 10% 33% 20% 13% 35% 55% 21% 42% 58% 25% 41% < < 60% 50% 53% 33% 41% 27% 52% 55% 14% < 57% < 18% 23% 35% 35% 31% < 25% < <
288 269 265 254 279 239 279 171 228 269 239 283 252 228 170 248 272 274 236 262 285 242 261 215 267 233 263 251 275
Special needs
level 4 < 82% 83% 87% 80% 73% 80% 89% 63% 88% 85% 74% 100% 100% 91% 91% < < 89% 100% 94% 96% 95% 95% 88% 100% 67% < 93% < 74% 85% 85% 85% 90% < 75% < <
2008
291 273 249 240 255 260 191 159 220 244 262 272 272 261 231 226 255 250 239 258 273 247 256 206 242 246 230 251 276
% persistent absence
level 5 < 48% 28% 17% 24% 20% 23% 34% 10% 24% 35% 42% 58% 25% 27% 41% < < 51% 74% 44% 42% 36% 47% 44% 52% 19% < 50% < 21% 8% 39% 44% 38% < 25% < <
Average points score
level 4 < 84% 86% 78% 83% 78% 82% 89% 73% 88% 85% 79% 100% 100% 77% 94% < < 94% 97% 91% 96% 95% 92% 84% 97% 81% < 93% < 84% 85% 92% 91% 97% < 88% < <
2007
291 267 209 266 240 229 233 183 202 217 297 252 252 222 191 226 273 252 238 251 281 189 240 229 242 NA 233 256 279
Aggregate score out of 300
level 5
eligible for tests 9 44 36 23 54 41 61 44 67 34 20 19 26 12 56 34 8 7 35 34 32 24 22 60 25 31 21 6 14 5 38 13 62 34 29 8 16 8 1
2006
Statemented
286 262 221 278 233 192 221 178 NA 229 291 234 260 232 193 NA 278 279 204 258 239 203 221 223 237 NA 238 230 NA
% persistent absence
29.7 28.1 28.7 28.6 28.9 26.5 28.9 24.7 26.8 28.4 27.4 29.2 28.2 27.1 24.6 27.5 29.1 29.1 26.8 28.8 29.6 26.9 27.9 26.3 28.3 27.1 27.9 27.4 28.8
% of pupils gaining Level 4 & 5
level 5
Ansdell Primary School 249 Bryning with Warton St Paul's 203 Clifton Primary School 224 Freckleton CE Primary 149 Freckleton Strike Lane Primary 136 Heyhouses Endowed CE Primary485 Holy Family Primary,Warton 103 Inskip St Peter's CE 40 Kirkham and Wesham Primary 182 Kirkham St Michael's CE 195 Lytham CE Primary 214 Lytham Hall Park Primary 248 Lytham St Annes Mayfield 314 Medlar-with-Wesham CE 180 Newton Bluecoat CE Primary 229 Our Lady Star of the Sea 225 Ribby with Wrea Endowed CE 138 Singleton CE Primary 97 St Thomas' CE, St Annes 233 St Joseph's, Medlar-with-Wesham 65 St Peter's RC Primary, Lytham 209 Staining CE Primary 229 The Willows RC, Kirkham 155
2005
66% 39% 53% 46% 61% 26% 50% 12% 31% 42% 26% 72% 57% 34% 19% 33% 48% 68% 32% 59% 71% 32% 32% 30% 37% 42% 51% 37% 50%
SCIENCE
MATHS
level 4
Fylde
No of pupils
Bilsborrow John Cross CE 36 Carleton Green Primary 264 Carleton St Hilda's CE 204 Carter's Charity, Preesall 169 Charles Saer Primary 288 Chaucer Primary 317 Cleveleys Manor Beach 346 Cleveleys Royles Brook 270 Flakefleet Primary 445 Garstang Primary 238 Garstang St Thomas' CE 155 Great Eccleston Copp CE 153 Hambleton Primary 167 Kirkland & Catterall St Helen's 130 Larkholme Primary School 273 Northfold Community Primary 179 Out Rawcliffe CE Primary 52 Pilling St John's CE Primary 66 Poulton Carr Head Primary 243 Poulton St Chad's CE 234 Poulton The Breck Primary 227 Preesall Fleetwood's Charity 125 Sacred Heart,Thornton 163 Shakespeare Primary 411 St Mary and Michael RC Primary 126 St John's RC Primary , Poulton 204 St Mary's RC Primary, Fleetwood 171 St Mary's RC, Great Eccleston 25 St Michael's-on-Wyre CE 98 St William's RC Primary , Pilling 41 St Wulstan's and St Edmund's 329 Stalmine Primary 66 Stanah Primary School 389 Thornton Baines Endowed 235 Thornton Primary 129 Treales CE Primary 44 Weeton Primary 103 Weeton St Michael's 37 Winmarleigh CE Primary 10
ENGLISH
99% 95% 93% 91% 94% 89% 97% 70% 83% 95% 77% 100% 89% 87% 73% 87% 91% 94% 82% 93% 100% 84% 90% 76% 97% 87% 98% 90% 97%
% persistent absence
51% 24% 28% 40% 39% 13% 38% 10% 17% 27% 32% 39% 31% 34% 11% 36% 49% 29% 22% 37% 38% 29% 25% 12% 33% 24% 33% 19% 19%
Contextual value added
level 5
97% 88% 82% 80% 91% 74% 91% 56% 72% 88% 81% 94% 79% 69% 51% 84% 90% 90% 82% 86% 88% 74% 85% 70% 83% 72% 88% 78% 88%
Contextual value added
level 4
27% 34% 43% 37% 18% 16% 32% 9% 17% 25% 19% 22% 29% 22% 16% 16% 37% 39% 26% 38% 35% 29% 32% 18% 33% 22% 8% 29% 41%
Contextual value added
level 5
92% 86% 90% 83% 94% 76% 91% 46% 73% 86% 81% 89% 84% 72% 46% 78% 91% 90% 73% 83% 97% 84% 86% 70% 87% 75% 77% 83% 91%
Average points score
level 4
92 59 72 35 33 62 34 90 71 77 31 18 94 68 37 89 90 31 77 90 34 31 59 33 30 99 93 94 32
Aggregate score out of 300
level 5
eligible for tests
625 462 505 231 240 433 203 534 481 520 204 143 621 382 202 458 568 193 473 622 220 234 440 215 177 656 484 678 241
% of pupils gaining Level 4 & 5
eligible for tests
Wyre
SCIENCE
No of pupils
Anchorsholme Primary School Bispham Endowed CE Blackpool Baines Endowed CE St John's CE St Nicholas CE Boundary Primary Christ The King RC Primary Claremont Primary Devonshire Primary Hawes Side Primary Holy Family Catholic School Kincraig Primary School Layton Primary School Marton Primary Nursery Mereside Primary Moor Park Primary Norbreck Primary Our Lady of The Assumption Revoe Community Primary Roseacre Primary St Bernadette's RC Primary St Cuthbert's RC Primary St John Vianney's RC Primary St Kentigern's RC Primary St Teresa's RC Primary Stanley Primary School Thames Primary School Waterloo Primary School Westcliff Primary School
No of pupils
Blackpool
MATHS
ENGLISH
Statemented
Primary School League Tables 2008. . . . . . . THE RESULTS
5.20% 9.40% 3.60% 5.40% 14.70% 3.70% 12.60% 7.50% 10.40% 4.10% 4.20% 5.20% 8.00% 10.00% 9.20% 12.90% 5.10% 8.20% 6.40% 3.10% 4.30% 3.50% 7.10%
Explanatory notes for the table THE Key Stage 2 primary school attainment and achievement league table results are listed in alphabetical order for Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The name of the school is followed by the total number of pupils on roll at the school, then by the total number who were eligible to sit their SAT tests in May.
The percentage of pupils who gain the benchmark Level Four in English is then listed. This is followed by the percentage who pass the higher Level Five. Maths and science Level Four and Five percentages then follow. A maximum of 100 per cent is available in each. There is a listing for the average points score of each child in that school.
The three Level Four percentages are then added together to give a total points score out of 300 which can be compared with the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s results from 2005, 2006 and 2007. Each school has calculated a Contextual Value Added score taking into account the different challenges they face, which is used to show how the school has helped the child
develop from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2, infants to juniors. The number 100 is given as an average.The rate of persistent absence shows the percentage of pupils in school typically missing a fifth of lessons, both with and without permission. The average point score, shows the average score achieved across all three subjects by pupils in the school.The points tar-
iff is: level 2 or below: 15 points; level 3: 21 points; level 4: 27 points; level 5: 33 points; level 6: 39 points.And finally the number of children the school has with recognised special educational needs is broken down into those who have statements and those who do not.
â&#x2013; All the data has been supplied by the Department for Children, Families and Schools.