NCLT Strategic Plan - Executive Summary 2021-2024 DRAFT

NCLT Strategic Plan Executive Summary

2021-2024

Our Vision Our colleges and schools will make a significant difference to the lives of young people.

As a result, together we will make a positive contribution to social mobility.

Our Commitment To provide an outstanding, consistent student experience through collaboration.

Contents Introduction

2

Our Journey

3

Local Context and Background Information

4

Our Vision, Commitment and Values

6

Strategic Vision for the Next 3 years 2021-2024

7

Our 4 Over-arching Educational Priorities

8

Over-arching Educational Priorities for September 2021-22

9

Educational Priorities and Key Actions for September 2020-21: Progress and Impact

10

Strategic Business Objectives 2020-2023

13

Monitoring, Review and Evaluation

21

Appendix 1: NCLT Colleges Destination Data 2021

22

Accompanying documents 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

NCP Quality Improvement Plan 2021 - 22 NCD Quality Improvement Plan 2021 - 22 NCB Quality Improvement Plan 2021 - 22 Wingfield Academy Quality Improvement Plan 2021- 22 Trust Outcome Targets Trust Destination Targets

1

Introduction As Trust leaders move towards 2022 and beyond, the landscape looks different again, with New College Doncaster in year 5, New College Bradford starting its third full year in operation and Wingfield Academy approaching its first anniversary being part of NCLT. Due to the pandemic, New College Doncaster has still only received one set of externally published data and New College Bradford is still yet to receive any. The last two academic years have involved both CAGs and TAGs, as the primary method for assessing our students across the Trust.

The Strategic Plan for 2021 – 2024 sets out a vision, strategic business objectives and over-arching educational priorities for the Trust which are based on those in previous years. Our re-formulated business objectives and priorities reaffirm our ethical decision making and our moral leadership. They identify our commitment to sustaining outstanding outcomes through implementing an ambitious curriculum to equip young people for progression and for their adult lives. The Trust’s strategic vision identifies schools as a part of our scope from 2020, and maintains our explicit commitment to “making a positive difference to social mobility”.

As the country appears to be slowly coming out of the pandemic, with high percentages of people now vaccinated, the rules for education providers have been relaxed. This said, the pandemic will no doubt continue to affect us in relation to future absences and attendance and the longer-term affect it has had on our students learning. With this in mind, one particular priority remains: To identify all learning gaps which have evolved throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This will be achieved through diagnostic testing.

This strategic plan is underpinned by the Principles of FREDIE (Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, Engagement), as these principles are fundamental to the high-level strategy and the day to day operations of the Trust.

2

Our Journey

• Our journey started in 2014, when the senior leadership at New College Pontefract used their “outstanding” Ofsted judgement as the platform for sharing that success with a larger number of young people and other educational providers.

• We were successful in achieving teaching school status, forming a powerful alliance of partners from early years through to FE. • Re-designating New College Pontefract to an academy and establishing a Multi-Academy Trust enabled us to set up two sister colleges.

• Together with the founding college, these colleges are located in areas of educational disadvantage in Doncaster and Bradford, with lower than average rates of attainment, university progression and low aspiration.

• We want to provide a model for educational excellence which will enable young people to succeed and progress, transforming their own lives and enriching their communities.

• Our small “portfolio” academy Trust’s mission is to replicate the outstanding educational model of the founding college in its sibling colleges in order to have greater and wider impact on the lives of young people and their communities.

• In December 2020 the Trust welcomed its first secondary school Wingfield Academy from Rotherham, South Yorkshire which will help develop and will lead the secondary arm of the Trust. Wingfield Academy is located in a similar area of educational disadvantage as the three colleges, so fits the profile and the vision of the Trust and its Board of Directors.

3

Local Context and Background Information We want our schools and colleges to be engines of social mobility, so that students succeed because of talent and hard work, and their ambitions are shaped by this, and not limited by the school or college they attend or the place where they live. As you can see from the data below our Trust serves some of the most deprived communities in the country.

New College Pontefract – Wakefield, West Yorkshire • • • • • • • • •

The multiple deprivation profile is unchanged from 2010.

Is the 65th most deprived district with high levels of education and skills deprivation.

15% of the population live in the most deprived neighbourhoods and there is a widening gap between the most deprived and the least deprived parts of the district.

12% of parents have no qualifications against a national figure of 17%.

25% of children live in poverty, and levels in areas from which the college recruits are much higher than this - Airedale 37%, West Wakefield 39%, Hemsworth 31%, Knottingley 30%.

The gap between the achievement of disadvantaged groups against non-disadvantaged groups is much higher than the gaps across England, and 53% of children from deprived backgrounds do not reach the academic attainment expected at age 11.

Only 7 out of 20 schools are above average for progress 8.

The free school meals gap is narrowing at a slower rate than national.

HE progression is lower than the national rate.

New College Doncaster – Doncaster, South Yorkshire • • • • • •

More people of working age claim benefits than in the rest of England, and the achievement of 5 good GCSEs remains below the national rate.

One third of children live in poverty, defined as living in a household where the income is less than 60% of the median national income, and there is a higher than average number of child protection plans. 23% of families claim income support.

The employment rate lags behind the rest of Yorkshire and the Humber and over 10% of working age population have no qualifications. Participation in post-16 education is lower than national.

Only 4 out of 18 schools have an above average progress 8 score.

The highest deprivation is in education and employment – 34 worst out of 326.

Doncaster has a lower rate of HE progression than regional and national rates.

New College Bradford – Bradford, West Yorkshire • • • • • •

The percentage of children attending a good or outstanding school is 42% against a national figure of 76%.

Average employment lags behind both local and national rates.

Is the 19th most deprived local authority, being the second most deprived across Yorkshire and the Humber, and the 5th in England.

27% live in the 10% most deprived areas, where 6% live in the 10% least deprived, so that’s a wide variation.

29% of children live below the poverty line (20% average).

Only 27% of the population are qualified to level 4, and the number with no qualifications is higher than regional and national rates.

4

Wingfield Academy – Rotherham, South Yorkshire • • • • • • •

47% of people living in Wingfield live in dwellings that are council owned or social housing.

Wingfield is the 4th most deprived ward in Rotherham LA. Child poverty is at 30 – 40% compared to 17% national average.

Wingfield is in the top 6% most deprived wards in England.

Rotherham is the 52nd most deprived district in England.

The percentage of people with a degree is well below the national average, as is the percentage of people with no qualifications.

Employment rate is currently at 78.5% which matches national rate.

College/School

New College Pontefract New College Doncaster New College Bradford Wingfield Academy

Age range

Total on roll*

Type

Ofsted

16-19

2840

Converter Academy

Outstanding (2013/14)

16-19

1372

Free School

Awaiting inspection

16-19

1281

Free School

Awaiting inspection

11-16

950

Converter Academy

Good (2017)

Total number of students = 6443 currently in the Trust

5

Our Vision, Commitment and Values Our Vision and Commitment Vision - Our colleges and schools will make a significant difference to the lives of young people. As a result, together we will make a positive contribution to social mobility.

Commitment- To provide an outstanding, consistent experience through collaboration.

Our Values Candour To be open, honest and fair to everyone Challenge To have high expectations of ourselves and each other Collaboration To learn from each other for the benefit of all Commitment To be dedicated, resilient and strive for continuous improvement Care To be considerate of others and their needs

6

Strategic Vision for the Next 3 years 2021-2024 This is a key moment for education. With the ramifications of Covid-19 becoming more visible, rarely has the vital part education plays in society been clearer. Our Trust’s role as an agent for social change means we will be at the forefront of helping the country take the concrete positive steps needed to recover from this crisis. We want the Trust’s family of colleges and schools, based in areas with high levels of deprivation, to provide an excellent education and enable our young people to access high quality employment and HE provision. We will achieve this by setting ambitious and challenging targets for our students and for ourselves, and seeking out and sharing the best teaching and learning in our sectors. This focus on narrowing gaps in educational attainment is part of the contribution we will make to helping the country recover from Covid-19, and will ensure we are “making a significant difference to the lives of young people”, providing “a positive contribution to social mobility”.

In practical terms, this means maintaining New College Pontefract’s outstanding Ofsted status, and ensuring that New College Bradford and New College Doncaster achieve at least a good in their first Ofsted inspections. The Trust will also be supporting Wingfield Academy, the newest member of our family, to help the Academy achieve a Grade 1 at their next Ofsted inspection. Our vision does not end here, though. We are actively exploring further opportunities to expand our post-16 provision via the government’s free school initiative, as well as investigating ways to establish a second 11-16 secondary school to partner Wingfield Academy. The number of 1118 year olds in the country is increasing, with demand for school and college places making expansion in this sector essential. Conversations are already underway with the Department for Education and Bradford Local Authority with regard to how the Trust can help with the increase in post-16 students. We are also actively engaged in discussion with several secondary schools and one Primary Trust.

Across the whole Trust, we want to become the employer of choice, with staff retention consistently high.

This will involve consolidating the Trust’s strong financial health and carefully managing its growth, whilst establishing a first class shared services function to support the work of our colleges and schools. We will continue to market ourselves as leaders of post-16 education, with a secondary arm, very much in its infancy.

We are actively forming strong links with other Trusts and strategic partners across our region, including the new Teaching School Hubs in Wakefield and Selby, and Doncaster and Barnsley.

All of this is underpinned by our consistent focus on the needs and success of each individual student. Making a positive impact on the lives of our young people is our ultimate aim, unifying everyone’s work across the Trust.

7

Our 4 Over-Arching Educational Priorities Whether one of the Trust’s 6th form colleges or Wingfield Academy, these 4 overarching educational priorities apply. It will be the individual College/Academy Principals’ responsibility, in conjunction with the CEO, to ensure that College/Academy Improvement Plans work toward achieving our priorities.

1. Student Achievement Sustaining the importance of achieving outstanding outcomes so students develop high quality skills and progress to higher level qualifications and into employment that meet local and national needs; We want every young person to achieve and exceed expectations whilst acquiring deep and powerful knowledge. The ability to self-regulate and develop the lifelong habit of learning.

2. Student Personal Development Establishing a moral balance between pursuing outstanding outcomes and developing both personally and socially; We will consistently and extensively promote the personal development of students, ensuring they have access to a wide, rich set of experiences that develop their cultural capital and teach them why it is important to contribute positively to society.

3. Contribution to Social Mobility Providing a community in which students flourish regardless of their background or starting point. Students consistently achieve highly, particularly the most disadvantaged; We work in areas of disadvantage and are active in deploying the latest learning sciences and evidenced based pedagogy, along with a deep commitment to developing strong teachers to remove any gaps.

4. Staff and Student Wellbeing Creating a physical and psychological environment where every individual is welcomed and valued as part of our broader commitment to FREDIE – Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, Engagement.

We want every member of our community to work in a climate of happiness, safety and respect; where ambition and aspiration sit alongside support, candour and care.

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Over-arching Educational Priorities for September 2021-22 1. Student Achievement • •

To identify all learning gaps which have evolved throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and provide the necessary supportive actions to close learning gaps.

Support staff to improve their own teaching practice, in order to further develop higher-level pedagogical and metacognitive practice, through a personalised CPD plan, rooted in evidence.

2. Student Personal Development •

To ensure that all students have access to a wide and varied set of experiences to develop their cultural capital. Participation rates in extra-curricular activities should be high across all student groups.

3. Contribution to Social Mobility •

To continue the relentless focus on the performance and progress of disadvantaged, SEND, LAC and EHCP students via the implementation of the Disadvantaged First Strategy.

4. Staff and Student Wellbeing • •

To implement the Trust-wide sexual harassment, violence and sexual abuse action plan.

The continued exploration of strategies to increase staff efficiency and effectiveness whilst reducing staff workload and increasing well-being opportunities.

9

Reviewing the Past 12 Months Educational Priorities and Key Actions for September 2020-21: Progress and Impact 1. Student Achievement Please find below the key actions for 2020/21 and progress reviewed: 1) Implementation of intervention and support plans to narrow any progress and attendance gaps emerging since COVID-19 and lockdown. i) Academic progress across the three colleges (in year 13) has been strong, with students performing very well in Cedar 4 and Cedar 5 Trust assessments, resulting in strong final outcomes (TAGs). Year 12 Progression Exams taken in June/July, suggest there are gaps in learning and lots of supportive work is to be implemented next academic year to reduce these gaps. ii) Attendance at NCP and NCD remains very strong and well above national benchmarks, but NCB’s student attendance has been affected more by the pandemic. This will be a priority for NCB next academic year and will feature strongly in its QuIP. Final Outcomes 2021 (TAGs) – Colleges NCP Qualifications Pass rate % A-Level 99.9 Applied General 100 Summary – Strong TAG performance

A* - B/High grades % 68.5 90.8

Alps (VA) 2 2

NCD Qualifications Pass rate % A-Level 99.9 Applied General 100 Summary – Strong TAG performance

A* - B/High grades % 60.6 97.6

Alps (VA) 2 2

NCB Qualifications Pass rate % A-Level 100 Applied General 100 Summary – Strong TAG performance

A* - B/High grades % 58.2 89.1

Final Outcomes 2021 – Academy Wingfield Academy Progress 8 0.77 Attainment 8 54.9 Grade 4 + EM 78.6 Grade 5 + EM 52.4

Alps (VA) 2 3

Summary – Strong TAG performance 10

2) Tracking and monitoring underperforming subjects and staff, whilst at the same time providing the necessary challenge and support.

As like every year this remained a priority and was discussed and reported upwards after every assessment data set and senior link meeting. Additional support was provided for all staff and subjects that required it, as part of the quality cycle. Trust Directors, Chelsea Branson-Webster and Helen Jackson, led on all subject and staff underperformance across the Trust.

3) Relentless focus on the performance and progress of disadvantaged students, including our most vulnerable.

All Colleges appointed a Disadvantaged Lead to support our disadvantaged students and to lead on the Disadvantaged First strategy. Please find below the relevant data showing the value-added performance of disadvantaged students and non-disadvantaged students: Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGs) 2021 NCP Y13 A-level No gaps Y13 Applied General Y12 Progress Exams

No gaps No gaps

NCD Gap identified (1 Alps grade) No gaps No gaps

NCB No gaps No gaps No gaps

The performance of Y12 students across the Trust in their progression exams was somewhat disappointing, for both disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged students, reflecting the difficulties and challenges of the previous 12 months. It also identifies the need to continue further diagnostic testing to identify gaps in subject knowledge. Intervention and support plans for individual students and groups will be put in place.

4) Implementation of the new assessment cycle to support sustained learning and knowledge retention.

The new Trust assessment cycle was successfully implemented. It has been fully reviewed by staff and senior leaders and further amendments have already been made, ready for September 21 teaching.

5) Promotion and development of academic literacy.

The promotion and development of academic literacy is very much in its infancy and remains a priority for next academic year across the Trust.

2. Student Personal Development Please find below the key actions for 2020/21 and progress reviewed: 1) Renewed focus on Personal Development, implementing the new enrichment curriculum leading to significantly increased participation levels.

Due to the pandemic, involving 3 lockdowns, isolations and social distancing, a lot of the planned enrichment activities have not been possible. However, a small number of enrichments across the college have taken place remotely. This remains a priority for the next academic year.

2) Increased number and quality of tutorials delivered via the pastoral curriculum.

This was successfully completed and the tutorial programme was significantly developed and refined, meeting the requirements of the Education Inspection Framework (EIF).

3) Introducing and embedding the concept of FREDIE as part of the personal development curriculum.

The Trust retained its ‘Leaders in Diversity’ status after external assessment. The concept of FREDIE is now being embedded into all aspects of College life, but is still in its early stages.

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3. Contribution to Social Mobility Please find below the key actions for 2020/21 and progress reviewed: 1) Introduction of the Trust Excellence Academy Co-ordinator and new Tutorial programme.

Helen Lonsdale was successfully appointed as Trust Excellence Academy Co-ordinator and has worked with all college leaders to further develop the provision for gifted and able students and also ensured a consistent Trust approach.

2) Design, delivery and implementation of the Trust Excellence Academy Baccalaureate.

This initiative has been put on hold due to the pandemic. The baccalaureate will be re-launched to students in September 2021.

3) Further strengthen rates of progression to HE and Russell Group universities to levels significantly above expectation.

Destination data for the Colleges is shown in appendix 1 of this document.

4. Staff and Student Wellbeing Please find below the priorities for 2020/21 and progress reviewed: 1) Further embedding of the Trust’s vision and values, including incorporating fully into the APR process.

The Trust vision and values have been embedded across the colleges, this past 12 months, and are referred to daily. This is also evident by their inclusion in: -APR process -Staff briefings/presentations -Display posters/signs -Student tutorial programme -Subject lessons -Professional conversations -CEO newsletter 2) Fundamental review of the staff reward and recognition policy.

The review of the staff reward and recognition policy has taken place and decisions made. The Trust has decided to remove the financial bonuses for individual teacher performance based on outcomes, as it was viewed as divisive. Additionally, colleges have been allocated a new budget of funds to promote well-being activities (in replacement of this). Work will now start to take place over the next academic year in order to integrate Wingfield Academy into the new wellbeing policy.

3) Implementation of a newly formed cross-college staff voice group.

The Trust staff voice group was successfully formed, and met on 4 occasions over the academic year. This is now being further reviewed in light of WFA joining the Trust and because of the Trade Union Recognition Agreement, soon to be finalised.

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Strategic Business Objectives 2020 – 2023 The Trust Executive Team and the Board of Directors will include business objectives in addition to our educational priorities which will help us to continue to develop the Trust into a market leader over the coming years.

NCLT Strategic Business Objectives 2020-2023 Evaluation Strategic objectives Implementations: What and and Intent: Why we how we intend to do this propose to do this work?

Consolidated and managed growth

1

2

3

Target Impact

Milestone

Responsibility Lead

• Grow organically to ensure the 6th form free schools operate at full capacity.

• Market both NCD and NCB accordingly to continue to increase student enrolment numbers.

• Continue to build positive relationships with schools in both areas to allow further access to Y10/Y11 students.

• All colleges are at full capacity by 2022.

Further increase in student enrolments September 2021

VM BCF SN

• Fully integrate Wingfield Academy and then start to develop the secondary arm of the Trust.

• Successful transfer of Wingfield Academy into the Trust 1 December 2020.

• Work with Trust leaders and Phil Davis to ensure Wingfield staff, students, advisors and parents recognise the positive transfer into NCLT.

December 2020

RPF JV PD

• Consider further growth opportunities which either add

• Work with the Regional Schools Commissioner to explore opportunities to further grow.

• Wingfield Academy transferred into NCLT. • NCLT support Wingfield Academy to achieve its DEP targets.

• Identification of potential schools to join NCLT.

January – July 2021

RPF JV PD

13

Progress/Impact September 2021

Progress/Impact 2021 2022

4

5

6

capacity and skills to the Trust or provide support to schools in need.

• Phil Davis (Headteacher Wingfield) will lead on establishing and liaising with potential schools to develop the secondary arm.

• Explore new post 16 development opportunities through the free schools programme in order to enhance educational improvements and social mobility in areas of disadvantage.

• Continue to liaise with Bradford LA regarding the possibility of a post 16 provider in North Bradford (New College Keighley).

• Meet with the Free School Network to establish when the next wave of free schools will be announced.

• Exploratory meetings arranged with key leaders and governing bodies.

• Additional school agrees to join NCLT. • Follow up on initial meeting with Bradford LA and local MPs resulting in full support and backing to pursue a 3rd Free School application.

• Take advantage of • Continue to follow the SFCA any capital growth updates regarding capital funding to further growth funding opportunities. develop the • Appointment of Bid Writer for estates and the Trust to keep a breadth of increase the new developments and capacity to meet opportunities. the rising population demographic.

Establishing a first class shared services model

• Capital funding made available by the DfE. • Successful application submitted.

• Provide a highly effective and efficient shared services model to support the smooth running and management

• A fully functioning shared services model providing effective services for Wingfield

• Review the current shared services functions.

• Provide a benchmarking exercise to the BOD each year – benchmarking the individual colleges against each other on key performance indicators.

September 2021 - 2023

January 2021 to 2023

RPF JV

JV

14

November 2020-July 2021 January 2021

RPF JV

of Trust services, regularly benchmarked.

• Continue to invest in new technology to support the development of Trust shared services.

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8

• Continue to ensure that we are an employer of choice, to support talent management, with clear succession plans which are

Academy, including Finance, HR, Health & Safety, Estates, GDPR and IT. • Ensure each of the Colleges is providing value for money and best practice.

• Ensure that the Trust is investing in new technology to support the development of the shared services looking at for example parent pay options, Work experience software, risk assessment software, IT/Site logging systems.

• Trust develops an implementation plan for new developments

• Continue implementing the ‘Employer of Choice’ action plan.

HR will lead on, working closely with the CEO, COO, Marketing manager and college Principals.

• The experience for the end users – students, parents, staff is enhanced and the services provided are improved and monitored • New developments are introduced in a timely way to avoid disruption to services • Staff retention rates and staff turnover remain in-line with previous years, continuing to be significantly stronger than

15

Ongoing during academic year 202021

JV

September 2021

RPF LW

sustainable resulting in strong staff recruitment and retention.

9

• Ensure the Trust shared services functions are suitably staffed to provide outstanding support for 11-16 schools.

• COO and HR Director to lead developments on ensuring the current services fit the needs of an 11-16 school.

• Appoint a customer services/relations manager to be the first point of contact for Wingfield staff if they have concerns about the quality of the shared services provided.

national averages.

• Staff surveys continue to be very positive and in line with previous years.

• Wingfield staff are fully ofay with how the shared services work.

November 2020 to July 2021

JV

Budget setting each year in June/July

JV

Strong sustained financial health

10

• Set challenging financial targets for each Trust school/college to reflect their individual context ensuring they achieve a positive cash surplus.

• The trust will set a positive surplus target for the school/Colleges of around 3% – if this cannot be achieved then there must be a three year plan which returns the academy back to positive surplus and in line with the targets set for the other schools/colleges • Those schools/colleges running deficit budgets must have sufficient reserves to meet any deficit.

• All the schools/colleges should have regard to ensuring that their budgets balance and that expenditure is closely monitored to avoid deficits.

• The curriculum offer should be regularly tested and costed to ensure it is fit for purpose.

16

11

• Ensure we achieve value for money in all our purchasing operations, to utilise our collective purchasing power.

• Continue to build up Trust reserves which allow for future investment in each Academies estate to provide first class facilities to support outstanding teaching and learning.

12

• By having centralised purchasing for the trust we can take advantage of economies of scale/trust purchasing power.

• Tenders where possible will be at trust level to ensure best value.

• Each college/schools to build up reserves to reinvest in large building projects where appropriate.

• The estates strategic plan will set out the longer term development needs of each school/college.

• The trust will continue to work with other consultants/architects/project managers to bid for any future capital funds.

• This will achieve value for money and help to keep overhead costs down.

Ongoing during the year 202021

JV

• By having a long term estates development plan for each school/college this will help to ensure that we can meet future needs of students and staff taking into account demographic trends.

• To take advantage of any capital funds which might become available in the future to support the development of first class facilities.

Ongoing during year 2020-24

JV

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Monitoring, Review and Evaluation Monitoring the progress of the Trust action plans such as the over-arching Strategic Plan and Quality Improvement Plans (QuIP) is a key action for Trust leaders, the Board of Directors and the Advisory Groups.

Please find below the arrangements for this: Plan

By who

How often

Trust Strategic Plan

Board of Directors/Trust Executive Team Advisory groups, Senior Leadership Teams, Trust Executive Team and CEO

3 times a year

College/Academy Quality Improvement Plans (QuIPs)

18

3 times a year

Appendix 1: NCLT Colleges Destination Data 2021

NEET College

Total

New College Pontefract New College Doncaster New College Bradford Yorkshire & Humber (2019/20) 6th Form Colleges (2019/20)

1160

Total in Education, Employment and Training (%) 92.7

594

HE (%)

Russell Group (%)

Further Education (%)

Apprentice (%)

Employment (%)

Seeking Employment (%)

Other (%)

Unknown (%)

64.2

20.0

7.8

7.6

13.1

3.2

0.3

3.7

92.8

70.8

15.3

0.8

5.2

16.0

1.0

0.3

5.9

480

97.2

82.8

5.9

1.9

5.3

7.2

2.5

0.0

0.2

34,903

87.6

51.5

-

5.6

7.6

21.3

9.1

-

3.3

54,857

89.1

53.7

-

3.0

6.2

22.6

7.5

-

3.4

19