New school league tables published by the government on Thursday (January 15th) show mixed results for Highbridge’s King Alfred School compared against schools across Somerset.
The tables show that in 2008 a total of 39 per cent of pupils at the Highbridge school achieved five or more A*- C grades, including English and maths, representing a four per cent fall on the previous year.
The school is ranked 31st out of 41 schools across Somerset in a comparison of those results.
But the tables are not all negative, though, with the percentage of King Alfred School pupils achieving English and maths skills at level 1 reaching 95%, compared to the UK average of 90.2% and the Somerset average of 93.1%.
Also, the percentage of pupils achieving level 1 with five or more A*- C grades was 94%, compared to a UK average of 91.6% and the Somerset average of 93.2%.
The league tables also reveal that absence at King Alfred School was eight per cent during 2008, and that persistent absence was 6.7 per cent, which was slightly above the average.
The government has a target to increase the proportion achieving five A*- C grades (and equivalent), including GCSEs in both English and maths, to 53% by 2011.
Teachers’ unions have expressed their opposition to the publication of the league tables and what they call “absurd” targets.
This year’s primary school league tables in England will be published in March.
RELATED LINKS:
Click here to see the full schools tables for Somerset [External link]
