PUPILS AND QUALIFICATIONS REPORTED

Reporting at the end of Key Stage 4 (KS4)

The Secondary School Achievement and Attainment Tables were previously based on the achievements of pupils in their final year of compulsory schooling (i.e. those aged 15 at the start of the school year). The 2005 Tables have instead been based on all pupils at the end of KS4, that is, those pupils who were in Year 11 in the 2004/05 school year. This is the year group in which pupils normally take their exams. Although most pupils in Year 11 are aged 15 at the start of the school year, in some schools there are younger and older pupils in this year group, as different pupils progress at different rates. The Tables now report the achievements of pupils at the end of KS4, regardless of their age, to allow for different rates of learning.

All performance data published in the Tables (percentages achieving National Framework of Qualifications Level 2 and Level 1 and at least one qualification, average total point score per pupil and the value added measures) are based on the achievements of pupils at the end of KS4. The bar chart showing results over the past four years, however, continues to be based on the achievements of pupils on roll who were aged 15 at the start of the school year.

Which qualifications are reported?

All qualifications have value in their own right as part of a fully-rounded educational experience and as a pathway towards further learning and employment. By recognising all approved qualifications, not just GCSEs and GNVQs, we ensure that schools receive full recognition of their efforts to broaden the curriculum opportunities available to their pupils in the 14-19 phase of education.

These Tables report achievements in all qualifications approved for pupils of compulsory school age. This includes GCSEs, vocationally related qualifications, NVQs, Entry Level qualifications and GCE/VCE AS level qualifications taken early. From this year we have also included graded exams in such subjects as music, dance, speech and drama.

All performance indicators published in these Tables include all approved qualifications in the threshold indicators (the percentage achieving Level 2 (five or more GCSE grades A*-C, or equivalent), the average point score and the value added measures).

 Take care when comparing this year's performance with performance for 2003 and 2002. The 2003 and 2002 Tables only report GCSEs and GNVQs, whereas the 2004 and 2005 Tables include a wider range of qualifications which are based on a different point scoring system.