Secondary Schools League Table

[lefol]

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/educatio ... 80236.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[apprentice]

Hmmm...so Newstead Wood is not included in the Top 10 list. I have an impression that NW is frequently missing in the various ranking such as GCSE and A-level recent years. Is it just me?

[pheasantchick]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/le ... ummet.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maybe this is why?

[chg-2003]

Newstead Wood appears in the 'top 100 GCSE' list, as the schools are ranked first on 'pupils with 5 passes inc Eng and Maths', then on average points score per pupil, NW slips down the list as their pass rate was not 100%. However, their 'average point' score is hugely impressive, so not to be dismissed simply because presumably one or two pupils failed to get the required passes.
And I'm not a NW parent!

[Graham_S]

Don't panic!

1 unfortunate girl got an E in Maths, which means "only" 99% of the year got the 5A-Cs plus English and Maths that is used to rank most of the tables published in the media, which means NW gets listed beneath any schools that got 100%.

In terms of average point scores (which is the second, tie-breaking criteria) it looks to me that NW is something like second in the country (at least among the Top 200 schools that are included in the Guardian's data). So that's where it would be if it wasn't for that stray E. I'd argue this average points score is much more important when you're comparing these sort of selective schools than whether a school gets 99% or 100%, which is mostly determined by whether a few kids have an off day or not.

That being said, NW's average point score (796) in the DfE data seems inconsisent with the data the school reported at GCSE results time. (685) I don't know why there is that discrepancy. That would push the school down to something like 15th in the country. This is still significantly ahead of all of the comparable schools in the London area. It's quite an achievement IMO. That's an awful lot of A*s, I don't know how they fit it all in.

I would still take these tables with a pinch of salt. Schools that do iGCSEs don't get listed at all. Private schools tend to do fewer exams. It's hard to compare like with like. I don't think that enormous points score means the school is better than a school with a lower score. Approach this data with caution.

But as a fun/silly exercise for those of us applying for schools this year, I thought I'd correct the impression that NW didn't do well in the tables this year: I'd argue that it's scored a remarkable success! I'm delighted!

[Graham_S]

Any other nerds want the data, here's the list of the schools I was interested in. Apologies for any errors.

Olaves 100% 652.5
City Girls 100% 603
Chis Sid 100% 573
Townley 100% 552
Newstead Wood 99% 796 (possibly 685??)
Bexley 99% 611
Dartford Girls 99% 578
Alleyns 99% 532
Henrietta Barnett 98% 628
Bromley 98% 503
JAGS iGCSE
St Paul's girls iGCSEs
Eton 595