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Examination Results at PolesworthWelcome to the examination results section of our website. Our most important school aim is to ensure that all students achieve exam results of which they and their families can be proud, and this is where you can judge if we’ve succeeded. These results have not yet been analysed to show what progress students have made, which is of course a vital measure of how effective a school is, because it takes account of the results of all students, not just those who achieve a particular number of higher grades. Progress figures will be added in January, when they are published by the government. But what is here will give you a very detailed picture of the school. At GCSE, we pay particular attention to the figure for grade C or above in English, Maths and three other subjects, because of the huge importance that society places on being able to read, write and calculate. Employers generally care more about English and Maths than even particular vocational qualifications. We offer a wide range of such qualifications in the Sixth Form, in collaboration with Tamworth and Lichfield College. However we use them very sparingly before the age of 16, because we are committed to ensuring that our students receive a broad general education, that reflects the kind of education enjoyed by the most privileged and successful members of our society. Consequently, over 90% of our Key Stage 4 students take a modern foreign language; all take at least double Science and some take triple; and all are able to take traditional subjects such as History and Geography. The other key league table figure at GCSE is that for grade C and above in any five subjects. You will notice that the two figures for PILC are pretty close together. In some schools there can be a wide gap, if they make use of vocational qualifications that are supposedly worth four GCSE grade C’s. Such gaps can be a cause for concern. We do not feel it is credible to say that such qualifications are equivalent to Biology, Chemistry, Physics and German added together. At PILC, four GCSEs would require about ten hours, or two days a week teaching time – which the vocational equivalents rarely receive. At A-level we pay particular attention to the average points score per student, because once again this reflects our commitment to providing as broad an education as possible, and recognises the fact that the majority of our Upper Sixth take three subject A-levels plus General Studies. Unlike many Headteachers, I am not against league tables, because I believe information about exam results is vital when choosing a school and should be easily available to young people and their families. If the figures are easily available, then it is inevitable that the media will wish to rank order them. Schools play such a key role in their communities and the life of the nation as a whole that we must be prepared to accept a great deal of scrutiny. I hope you find this information useful. Please feel free to email me at school if there is anything you would like to raise. Andy Clarke.
The following figures are subject to revision because where
we believe students have not been awarded the correct grades, we
have submitted appeals, requesting remarks. The figures will be
updated as and when necessary. All figures relate to whole
school performance and not that of individual departments, whose
Heads of Department conduct their own in-depth analysis of
public examination results in a report to the Headteacher.
This initial data was presented to the whole staff on
September 3rd. It is, of course, subject to ratification, and
does not include vital information such as contextual value
added scores which will be published during the Autumn term in
the league tables. Every effort has been made to ensure the
figures are accurate but we do apologise for any errors which
might exist.
Paul Fowler.
Deputy Headteacher.
If you are unfamiliar with the examination grading process, please read the summary section first, which will hopefully put all the details into a more digestible format.
And finally, congratulations to all the students who took
their examinations last summer, Well done! |
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