Schools score well but heads hit at leagues

Reports by Alison Gosling

THE publication of the Government's education league tables has attracted widespread criticism for failing to give a true picture of ability and success in in local schools.

Many heads in Dover, Deal and Sandwich have condemned the tables as inaccurate and unfair.

Martin Wright, headteacher of Dover College, said: "A three dimensional view is needed to lake into account character and culture.

"Instead we have a single flat, grey dimension which does not reflect on performance.

"By limiting exam results to age group, it penalises the bright pupil who takes an exam early or the child from overseas who takes a year to learn English and then sits the exam:"

Dover College, an independent boarding and day school, draws many of its pupils from overseas. They make up about 25 percent of the upper 6th form

Mr Wright said the tables told parents very little about schools and their approach. What was needed was a system with 'value added' to reflect each child's individual progress.

This year 44 percent of the college's pupils gained five or more GCSEs, in grades A to C. Average points scored at A level was 12.4 per cent.

Ian Mellor, headteacher of Sir Roger Manwood's grammar school, was equally critical of the tables and warned that it was wrong to draw conclusions from the results.

He told the Express: "The tables are basically flawed and have little bearing on reality."

He wants the tables to be replaced with an accurate statement of what each school does, how pupils take exams and the grades they achieve.

The school performed well in the tables. with A level students gaining an average 20.9 points in their exams and 95 percent of pupils gaining five or more A to C grades at GCSE level.

The school was recently inspected by the Office For Standards in Education (OFSTED). Mr Mellor said he was awaiting the publication of results with interest. They are expected in mid-December.

The tables were defended by headteacher of Dover Grammar School for Girls, Elizabeth Lcwis.

Pupils' results placed the school well up the top of the GCSE league with a 96 percent score. It was given a middle position for A level points scored.

She said: "The whole tenor of the debate on education is seeking to improve schools, so - like them or not - the tables focus attention on end results."

Miss Lcwis accepted the need for changes in the system and felt it a shame that no-one had built in a 'value added' procedure. Ideally, this would chart each child's progress - and rate of improvement compared with when they were 11.

Dover's grammars near top of GCSE table

DOVER'S two grammar schools were placed near the top of the GCSE league table for their achievements, with 96 percent of pupils gaining five or more A to C grades.

Headteacher of Dover Grammar School for Boys, Neil Slater, said staff were delighted. A level results also were better than last year with the school receiving an average points score of 15.4 percent - a middle position in the overall league table for Kent.

"Our exam results are consistently good and Improve year by year," said Mr Slater. "Our GCSEs this year were very good and we are working hard to ensure better A level results In the future."

He said changes in structure and approach had been made since the school became grant maintained in April.

Mr Slater felt the league tables were "better than nothing" In as much as they provided a free flow of Information. "Of course, the school has far more aims and objectives than exam results alone and it is a shame these cannot be reflected," he said.

As well as turning in a sterling performance in the GCSE league, Dover Grammar School for Girls bettered last year's A level results.

This year the school scored 15.2 percent in average points at A level, just below the boys' school.