National League Tables Show Major Success
February 27th, 2008
National League Tables show that together we are making this school a major success.Ensuring that every pupil matters is what makes a successful school and Tollbar BEC is officially proof of that, according to the most recent National Performance League Tables.
Mentoring and Saturday morning classes have helped students to achieve exam results that rank us in the top 7% of all schools across the country for value added.
Seventy six per cent of students who took GCSE’s last summer achieved 5 “A to C” grades, including English and Maths, and that puts us 30% higher than the national average. This is now a national indicator.
Tollbar achieved the best results in the Humber region, but even more important, national data shows that 46% of pupils who enter the school are only just above the national average, but when they leave at KS4, results have shown an 11% improvement.
These figures come as no surprise to staff who have so much faith in the students that we are dropping A-levels altogether in September to introduce the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
Head David Hampson says: “There has been much publicity recently about large schools not being effective. Tollbar obviously bucks the trend, but this is as a result of good quality teaching and leadership.
“Our work with National Statistician, Professor Jesson enables us to have a clear indication of the progress of students, so we truly know when we are adding value to their outcomes.
“These results are amazing for a true comprehensive, as indicated by our value added, and compare favourably to schools nationally, and it is because students perform so well that we have decided to introduce a post 16 qualification (the International Baccalaureate) which will better prepare students for Higher Education and the world of work.”
Other results in the Performance League Tables released in January 2008 show that:
- Tollbar is ranked 47th in the ‘Most improved school’ category.
- The percentage of students achieving Maths GCSE at Tollbar was 77.9%- this puts Tollbar in the top 11% nationally for value added.
- The percentage of students achieving English GCSE at Tollbar was 87.6% - this puts Tollbar in the top 6% nationally for value added.
- Tollbar has consistently achieved high GCSE ( inclusive of English and Maths) results but it is only this year that schools like it, that have successfully delivered a core curriculum are now being recognised. This is indicated by some schools dropping from 83% (5A*-C) to 11% (5A*-C grades including English and Maths).
Mr Hampson adds: “These results have been achieved by working closely with each individual child and ensuring provision matches student needs. At Tollbar every child really does matter. Students will continue to have a considerable amount of support in the form of mentoring and Saturday morning classes, which will enable them to achieve their full potential.”
