The 2009 Tables will report :

English and mathematics indicators

  • Percentage of pupils achieving 5 or more GCSEs grades A*-C (or equivalent) including English and mathematics GCSEs

    This key indicator shows the percentage of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 achieving 5 or more GCSEs (or equivalent) at grades A*-C including English and mathematics GCSEs.

    To be counted in the indicator pupils must have achieved at least the equivalent of three GCSEs at grade C and above and at least grades A*-C in

    • GCSE English or English Language and
    • GCSE mathematics or Additional mathematics
    • AS English and AS mathematics results obtained in KS4, where pupils have not first taken the GCSE, will be included in the indicator relating to 5 or more GCSEs at A*-C (or equivalent) including English and mathematics.

    GCSE English Literature and GCSE Statistics are not included in the English and mathematics indicators.

  • Percentage of pupils achieving English and mathematics Skills at Level 2

    This shows the percentage of pupils achieving good grades in English, mathematics, literacy and numeracy - even though some may not have achieved the equivalent of five good GCSEs or good GCSEs in English and mathematics.

    To be counted in the indicator pupils must have achieved:

    • GCSE English or English Language at grade A*-C; or
    • Level 2 Functional Skill in English; or
    • Level 2 Key Skill in Communication; or
    • Level 2 Basic Skill in Literacy; or
    • AS English

    And

    • GCSE mathematics at grade A*-C; or
    • Level 2 Functional Skill in mathematics; or
    • Level 2 Key Skill in Application of Number; or
    • Level 2 Basic Skill in Numeracy; or
    • AS mathematics
  • Percentage of pupils achieving English and mathematics skills at Level 1

    This shows the proportion of pupils achieving Level 1 English and mathematics, literacy and numeracy - even though some may not have achieved the equivalent of 5 GCSEs.

    To be counted in the indicator the student must have achieved:

    • GCSE English or English Language at grades A*-G; or
    • Level 1 Functional Skill English; or
    • Level 1 Key Skill in Communication; or
    • Level 1 Basic skill in Literacy; or
    • AS English

    And

    • GCSE mathematics at grades A*-G; or
    • Level 1 Functional Skill mathematics; or
    • Level 1 Key Skill in Application of Number; or
    • Level 1 Basic Skill in Numeracy; or
    • AS mathematics

Science Indicator

  • Percentage of pupils achieving at least two GCSEs at grades A*-C and equivalent.

    To be counted in the indicator the pupil must have achieved grades A*-C in:

    • GCSE Science ('core') and GCSE Additional Science; or
    • GCSE Science ('core') and GCSE Additional Applied Science; or
    • GCSE Applied Science Double Award; or
    • GCSE Science and GCSE Environmental and Land-based Science; or
    • Level 2 BTEC First Certificates and First Diplomas in Applied Science at pass, merit and distinction; or
    • OCR Level 2 National Awards and National Certificates in Science at pass, merit and distinction.
    • Intermediate Science GNVQ; or
    • Pupils will have to have taken GCSEs in all three of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, but to be counted need only have attained grades A*-C in at least two of the disciplines.
    • Pupils who have taken GCSEs and/or GCE AS levels early in all three of Physics, Chemistry and Biology will also be counted, but need only have attained GCSE grades A*-C and/or GCE AS grades A-E in at least two of the disciplines.
    • Until they are phased out, GCSEs covering the old Key Stage 4 programme of study (Double Science, Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Applied Science Double Award) will count.

    Only these combinations will count in the indicators - others may be taken but must be in addition, rather than instead of these combinations

Modern Foreign Languages Indicators

  • Percentage of pupils at the end of KS4 who have achieved at least one full GCSE (or equivalent) at grade A*-C in a modern language
  • Percentage of pupils at the end of KS4 who achieved at least one short course GCSE (or equivalent) at grade A*-G in a modern language.

To be counted in the indicators pupils must have achieved:

  • Any Level 1 or Level 2 modern foreign language qualification approved for use pre-16, e.g. GCSEs, the Languages Ladder/Asset Language qualifications or NVQ language units which will count towards a language qualification; or
  • AS taken early; or
  • Level 3 Asset Language qualifications taken early.

Classical languages, British sign languages, any English for Speakers of Other languages (ESOL) and qualifications reflecting a study of literature and/or culture are not included in the indicators.

A list of the qualifications included in the KS4 English, maths, science and modern languages indicators is available on the Achievement and Attainment Tables Checking website at: https://www.aatchecking.com

The Tables continue to report:

  • Percentage of pupils achieving five or more GCSE grades A*-C, (and equivalent)

    This shows the proportion of pupils in a school who have achieved the equivalent of five good GCSE grades and have attained the level necessary to proceed to advanced levels of study.

  • Percentage of pupils achieving five or more GCSE grades A*-G, (and equivalent)

    This shows the proportion of pupils who have achieved the equivalent of five GCSE pass grades.

  • Percentage of pupils achieving at least one qualification

    This shows the proportion of pupils in a school who have achieved a pass grade in at least one entry level qualification.

  • Average total point score per pupil

    The average total point score provides a fuller picture of the achievements of pupils of all abilities. Two schools with similar percentages of pupils achieving Level 2 or Level 1 thresholds may have different average point scores.

    The average total point score is calculated by dividing the total number of points achieved by pupils at the end of KS4 by the number of pupils on roll at the end of KS4.

    The average point score published here includes all of each pupil's GCSE (and equivalent) qualifications, not just the best eight.

Year on year comparisons

The Tables also show a time series in the form of a bar chart. This shows the proportion of pupils at the end of KS4 who have achieved 5 or more GCSE (and equivalent) grades A-C including GCSEs in both English and mathematics in each year from 2006 onwards allowing you to compare the results for a school over the past four years.

What the year on year comparisons tell you

From the bar chart, you can see the history of a school’s results, and whether they have stayed at the same level over time. Because each year group is made up of different pupils, with different prior attainment and other characteristics, results may fluctuate from year to year for reasons to do with the pupils rather than the school. Small fluctuations from year to year are unlikely to be significant, particularly if the school’s year group is small.

The year on year comparisons data for 2009 include all the results achieved by pupils in their last year of compulsory schooling, even if some or all of those results were obtained in earlier years. Early-taken results are credited to the school where the pupil is on roll at the time of statutory school-leaving age