PART 1
(OPEN TO THE PUBLIC) / ITEM NO.

REPORT OF THE LEAD MEMBER FOR EDUCATION

TO THE SOCIAL SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

ON 10th January 2001

TITLE

School Performance 1999 / 2000

RECOMMENDATIONS

That the Committee notes the contents of the report.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report contains details of the achievements of Salford schools in the National Curriculum Key Stage tests in summer 2000. Primary school results remain at national levels and continue to improve. Secondary school results at Key Stage 3 remain low, while at GCSE are improving but with some way still to go. At all key stages, there are some schools in the best quarter and some in the worst quarter.

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS

(Available for public inspection)

Primary School Performance Tables 1998, 1999, 2000

Secondary School Performance Tables 1998, 1999, 2000

All available in hard copy from the Strategic Information Unit, Education Offices, Chapel Street, M3 5LT; 0161-837-1865; and over the internet from:

http:/

CONTACT OFFICER :MATT VARLEY

WARD(S) TO WHICH REPORT RELATE(S):ALL WARDS

KEY COUNCIL POLICIES Raising the attainment of young people

DETAILS Begin Overleaf

1.Primary Schools

1.1.Key Stage 1

Key stage 1 tests are taken by pupils at the end of year 2, by which time most will have reached the age of 7. The National Curriculum is designed so that pupils of this age should be reaching Level 2.

1.1.1.2000 Results

The table below shows the proportion of pupils achieving level 2 or better in the tests. Figures show Salford and National results for 1999 and 2000, and the difference the two in each year.

Subject / 1999 / 2000
Salford / Nat / Diff / Salford / Nat / Diff
Reading task / test / 83 / 82 / +1 / 83 / 83 / 0
Writing test / 84 / 83 / +1 / 85 / 84 / +1
Spelling test / 74 / 71 / +3 / 72 / 71 / +1
Mathematics test / 89 / 87 / +2 / 89 / 90 / -1
Science Assessment / 90 / 86 / +4 / 88 / 88 / 0

Figures taken from DfEE Statistics

1.1.2.Benchmark summary

The table below shows how many of Salford’s 85 mainstream schools who entered pupils for Key stage 1 tests were in the best 25% when their results were compared with the results for similar schools nationally, and how many schools were in the worst 25% when compared with similar schools nationally. Similar schools in this context are those that have a similar proportion of pupils eligible for Free school meals.

Subject / Top 25% Schools / Bottom 25% Schools
1999 / 2000 / 1999 / 2000
Reading Task / Test / 38 / 32 / 8 / 10
Writing test / 39 / 29 / 7 / 8
Mathematics test / 32 / 24 / 6 / 12
Science Assessment / 34 / 30 / 8 / 13

1.1.3.Key points

  • Salford is achieving at national levels in Key stage 1.
  • Having been marginally ahead of national figures in 1999, Salford is now at national levels.
  • The number of top quartile performing schools has fallen, while the number of bottom quartile performing schools has risen.
  • Salford has more top performers and fewer bottom performers than average.
  • Performance at this key stage is very good on any terms. It is especially good when the high deprivation across the city is taken into account.

1.2.Key Stage 2

Key stage 2 tests are taken by pupils at the end of year 6, by which time most will have reached the age of 11. The National Curriculum is designed so that pupils of this age should be reaching Level 4.

1.2.1.2000 Results

The table below shows the proportion of pupils achieving level 4 or better in the tests. Figures show Salford and National results for 1999 and 2000, and the difference between the two in each year.

Subject / 1999 / 2000
Salford / Nat / Diff / Salford / Nat / Diff
English Test / 70 / 70 / 0 / 74 / 74 / 0
Mathematics Test / 70 / 68 / 2 / 72 / 71 / 1
Science Test / 77 / 78 / -1 / 83 / 84 / -1

Figures taken from DfEE Statistics

1.2.2.Benchmark summary

The table below shows how many of Salford’s 85 mainstream schools who entered pupils for Key stage 2 tests were in the best 25% when their results were compared with the results for similar schools nationally, and how many schools were in the worst 25% when compared with similar schools nationally. Similar schools in this context are those that have a similar proportion of pupils eligible for Free school meals.

Subject / Top 25% Schools / Bottom 25% Schools
(Tests) / 1999 / 2000 / 1999 / 2000
English / 32 / 33 / 5 / 13
Maths / 34 / 35 / 7 / 10
Science / 33 / 20 / 15 / 13

1.2.3.Key points

  • Salford is achieving at national levels in Key stage 2.
  • English results are exactly at national levels. Maths is slightly higher and Science slightly lower in Salford, but the differences are very small.
  • In both English and Maths, the number of top quartile performing schools has risen slightly, as has the number of bottom quartile performing schools. Salford has more top performers and fewer bottom performers than average.
  • In Science, the number of top quartile performing schools has dropped considerably. However, there were many schools achieving just below the top quartile, and the number of bottom quartile performers has dropped.
  • Performance at this key stage is very good on any terms. It is especially good when the high deprivation across the city is taken into account.

  1. Secondary Schools

2.1.Key Stage 3

Key stage 3 tests are taken by pupils at the end of year 9, by which time most will have reached the age of 14. The National Curriculum is designed so that pupils of this age should be reaching Level 5.

2.1.1.2000 Results

The table below shows the proportion of pupils achieving level 5 or better in the tests. Figures show Salford and National results for 1999 and 2000, and the difference between the two in each year.

Subject
/ 1999 / 2000
Salford / Nat / Diff / Salford / Nat / Diff
English Test / 55 / 64 / -9 / 52 / 63 / -11
Mathematics Test / 52 / 62 / -10 / 56 / 65 / -9
Science Test / 43 / 55 / -12 / 49 / 59 / -10

Figures taken from DfEE Statistics

2.1.2.Benchmark summary

The table below shows how many schools were in the best 25% when their Key Stage 3 results were compared with the results for similar schools nationally, and how many schools were in the worst 25% when compared with similar schools nationally. Similar schools in this context are those that have a similar proportion of pupils eligible for Free school meals.

Subject / Top 25% Schools / Bottom 25% Schools
(Tests) / 1999 / 2000 / 1999 / 2000
English / 3 / 4 / 1 / 5
Maths / 3 / 4 / 1 / 0
Science / 3 / 6 / 3 / 3

2.1.3.Key points

  • Salford is achieving well below national levels in Key stage 3.
  • Analysis has demonstrated that it is NOT the case that Salford loses all of its more able children at transfer from primary to secondary school, or even a sufficient number to explain this drop in performance from Key stage 2.
  • English results in Salford have fallen. Results in Maths and Science have improved, but Salford remains about 10% behind national figures.
  • The number of top quartile performing schools has increased in all subjects.
  • The number of bottom quartile performing schools has increased in English.

2.2.Key Stage 4 (GCSE)

Key stage 4 exams are taken by pupils at the end of year 11, by which time most will have reached the age of 16. Performance at GCSE is measured in many different ways. The most common aggregate measures, used in this report, are the proportion of pupils achieving five or more grade C or better passes; the proportion achieving five or more passes; the proportion achieving at least one pass; and the average points score. The latter assigns 8 points to an A*, 7 to an A, 6 to a B and so on, yielding a total points score for each pupil and therefore an average for Salford. GNVQs are counted within each of these measures.

2.2.1.2000 Results

The table below shows the Salford and National GCSE results for 1999 and 2000, and the difference between the two for each year.

Measure
/ 1999 / 2000
Salford / Nat / Diff / Salford / Nat / Diff
% 5+ A*-C / 34.1 / 47.9 / -13.8 / 35.5 / 49.2 / -13.7
% 5+ A*-G / 86.9 / 88.5 / -1.6 / 89.9 / 88.9 / +1.0
% 1+ A*-G / 94.4 / 94.0 / +0.4 / 95.6 / 94.4 / +1.2
Average Point Score / 31.4 / 38.1 / -6.7 / 32.4 / 38.9 / -6.5

Figures taken from DfEE Statistics

2.2.2.Benchmark summary

The table below shows how many schools were in the best 25% when their GCSE results were compared with the results for similar schools nationally, and how many schools were in the worst 25% when compared with similar schools nationally. Similar schools in this context are those that have a similar proportion of pupils eligible for Free school meals.

Subject / Top 25% Schools / Bottom 25% Schools
(Tests) / 1999 / 2000 / 1999 / 2000
% 5+ A*-C / 5 / 4 / 4 / 3
% 5+ A*-G / 6 / 9 / 3 / 0
% 1+ A*-G / 6 / 8 / 2 / 0
Average Point Score / 5 / 2 / 5 / 3

2.2.3.Key points

  • Salford is achieving below national levels in terms of the number and quality of passes at GCSE, as measured by the average points score.
  • Salford is achieving above national levels in terms of numbers of passes of any grade.
  • Salford has gained ground on national figures on each of the four measures shown.
  • The number of top quartile performing schools has increased for the ‘any pass’ measures, but decreased for the C grade or better passes and the average points score.