Glossary

LEA: Local education authority
CTC: City Technology College or City College for the Technology of Arts
CY: Community school maintained by the local education authority (LEA). The LEA is the admissions authority - it has main responsibility for deciding arrangements for admitting pupils.
CYS: Community special school maintained by the LEA, which is specially organised to make special educational provision for pupils with special educational needs.
FD: Foundation school maintained by the LEA. Some may have a foundation (generally religious) which appoints some - but not most - of the governing body. The governing body is the admissions authority.
FDS: Foundation special school maintained by the LEA which is specially organised to make special educational provision for pupils with special educational needs.
IND: Registered independent school, normally charging fees.
IND(SS): Independent school approved under the Education Act 1996 to take pupils who have statements of special educational needs.
NMSS: Non-maintained special school approved by the Secretary of State under the Education Act 1996 which is specially organised to make special educational provision for pupils with special educational needs.
VA: Voluntary aided school maintained by the LEA, with a foundation (generally religious) which appoints most of the governing body. The governing body is the admissions authority.
VC: Voluntary controlled school maintained by the LEA, with a foundation (generally religious) which appoints some - but not most - of the governing body. The LEA is the admissions authority.
COMP: Comprehensive - takes all pupils, regardless of their ability, aptitude, or whether they have been selected for a place at a selective school.
MOD: Modern - takes pupils regardless of their ability or aptitude and who have not been selected for a place at a selective school.
NON SEL: Non-selective - independent school which takes pupils usually regardless of their ability or aptitude.
SEL: Selective - takes pupils depending on their ability or aptitude and also known as grammar schools.
A: Designated as an arts college under the specialist school programme.
L: Designated as a language college under the specialist school programme.
S: Designated as a sports college under the specialist school programme.
T: Designated as a technology college under the specialist school programme.
GCSE: General Certificate of Secondary Education
GCE A: General Certificate of Education Advanced Level
GCE AS: General Certificate of Education Advanced Supplementary
GNVQ: General National Vocational Qualification
NVQ: National Vocational Qualification
C&G: City and Guilds
BTEC: Business and Technology Education Council
RSA: RSA Examination Board
E: The school has not confirmed that it has checked the examination results.
B: The school has not confirmed that it has checked the background information
N/A: Not available/Not applicable
<: Less than 0.05%
NE: Not Entered
NIR: No Information Received
N/A: Not Applicable
Feeder school: Member of sixth form centre/consortia
New School: School opened during the 1999/2000 academic year.
Charter Mark: This school has been awarded the Charter Mark.
England average: The average figures for all schools in England including independent schools.
Lea average: The average figures for all state schools in each local education authority area, including special schools and CTCs.
Sixth form centre/consortium: In some areas, perhaps to pool resources and offer a wider range of post-16 courses to students, some schools co-operate together in a group known as a sixth form centre or consortium. The particular approach may vary, for example, all students from the schools involved in a consortium might study science at one school and languages at another; or a group of schools might choose to put their resources together so that sixth form teachers and students have a separate building.
Pupils (all ages): Total number of pupils of all ages on the school register on 21 January 2000.
Pupils with statements: Total number of pupils with statements of special educational needs. These statements describe any learning difficulties which pupils have, and specify the extra help or equipment which they need. Around 3% of school pupils nationally have statements. If a school has a large proportion of pupils with special needs, its examination results may appear lower than expected.
Pupils without statements: Total number of pupils with special educational needs, but without statements. These are other pupils registered as having special educational needs but whose schools meet the pupils' needs without a statement. If a school has a large proportion of pupils with special needs, its examination results may appear lower than expected.
Pupils aged 16+: Number of pupils aged 16 and over. This gives an indication of the size of a school's sixth form.
Pupils aged 15: Total number of pupils aged 15 at the start of the 1999/2000 school year. This includes pupils who did not attempt any GCSEs or GNVQs.
GCSE results: GCSE results are shown for all the pupils in each school who were aged 15 at the start of the 1999/2000 school year. All the results achieved by these pupils in 2000 (and in earlier years if they took GCSEs when they were younger than 15) are included as long as the pupils were on the register at the school. This shows what GCSEs pupils in each school have achieved by the time they reach school-leaving age. The results of some pupils who took exams early and since moved to a different school or college will be shown against the school where they took their examinations. Some pupils take their examinations later because of illness, because they are from overseas, or for other reasons. The results of these pupils - aged 16 or over at the start of the 1999/2000 school year - are not shown. There are 8 GCSE pass grades ranging from A* to G. The starred A recognises outstanding achievement and was awarded to pupils for the first time in 1994.
Pupils aged 15 with SEN: The number of 15 year olds with and without statements of special educational needs.
% Pupils aged 15 with SEN: The percentage of 15 year olds with and without statements of special educational needs.
5+A*-C: The percentage of 15 year-olds who gained five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C - the standard normally needed to prepare them for study for GCE A/AS level examinations or the more advanced vocational qualifications.
5+A*-G: The percentage of 15 year-olds who gained five or more passes at grades A* to G.
no passes: The percentage of 15 year-olds who reached school leaving age with no GCSE or GNVQ passes.
average: The GCSE/GNVQ average point score per 15 year old. The average point score is calculated by dividing the total GCSE/GNVQ points achieved by the number of 15 year olds. This provides a fuller picture of the GCSE and GNVQ achievements of pupils of all abilities.
5+A*-C: The percentage of 15 year-olds who gained five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C - the standard normally needed to prepare them for study for GCE A/AS level examinations or the more advanced vocational qualifications.
no passes: The percentage of 15 year-olds who reached school leaving age with no GCSE or GNVQ passes.
Vocational qualifications: The tables record achievements in approved GNVQs and NVQs and related qualifications - the City and Guilds Diploma of Vocational Education and RSA Initial Awards. For GNVQs and NVQs the results include achievements in both full awards and in units towards all qualifications. The tables show the number of 15 year olds taking the courses, and the percentage achieving all the qualifications or units for which they studied in 1999/2000. Not all schools enter pupils for vocational qualifications.
number: Number entered.
% achieving: Percentage achieving all the qualifications or units for which they studied in 1999/2000.
Pupils in year 11: Schools were invited (but not required) to provide information on the GCSE results for all pupils in Year 11. This is the year group, sometimes known as the "fifth form", in which pupils normally take their GCSEs. Most pupils in Year 11 are aged 15 at the start of the school year, but in some schools there are younger pupils and older pupils in this year.
number: Number entered.
5+A*-C: Percentage of these pupils who gained five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C.
Absence: half days missed: Percentage of half days missed by day pupils - that is, the percentage of the total teaching time available to all day pupils of compulsory school age that was missed. This relates to pupil absences in the 1999/2000 school year up to and including 26 May 1999. Boarding pupils are not included.
Pupils of school age: Number of day pupils of compulsory school age, that is aged 5 to 16 only.
Authorised absence: Authorised absence is absence with permission from a teacher or other authorised representative of the school. This includes absences for which a satisfactory explanation has been provided (eg illness).
Unauthorised absence: Unauthorised absence is absence without permission from a teacher or other authorised representative of the school. This includes all unexplained or unjustified absences.
1997 - GCSE/GNVQ 5+A*-C: % of 15 year old pupils achieving 5 or more grades A*-C in 1997
1998 - GCSE/GNVQ 5+A*-C: % of 15 year old pupils achieving 5 or more grades A*-C in 1998
1999 - GCSE/GNVQ 5+A*-C: % of 15 year old pupils achieving 5 or more grades A*-C in 1999
2000 - GCSE/GNVQ 5+A*-C: % of 15 year old pupils achieving 5 or more grades A*-C in 2000
1997 - GCSE/GNVQ no passes: % of 15 year old pupils achieving no passes (GCSE/GNVQ) in 1997
1998 - GCSE/GNVQ no passes: % of 15 year old pupils achieving no passes (GCSE/GNVQ) in 1998
1999 - GCSE/GNVQ no passes: % of 15 year old pupils achieving no passes (GCSE/GNVQ) in 1999
2000 - GCSE/GNVQ no passes: % of 15 year old pupils achieving no passes (GCSE/GNVQ) in 2000
Q: This data item is under query and will be replaced after investigation.