The primary league tables have been published.
The Department for Education site publishes the percentage of children at the end of Key Stage 2 (Year 6) achieving Level 4 or more in both English (reading and writing) and Maths together. It shows at Moortown Primary, this percentage has gone from 78% in 2009 to consistently over 90%. In 2012, 94% of children achieved Level 4 or more.
What the league tables don’t show is the stories behind the data. We’re proud of this figure: 94% continues to place us amongst the highest in the country. But it’s a little lower than 2010 and 2011. One child missed out on a Level 4 by a couple of marks in Maths but achieved Level 4 in English – this is shame, especially since Ms Hazell reports that the pupil was working quite securely at Level 4 for much of the year (perhaps SAT nerves or test technique let this pupil down on the day…?). Another much-loved child has very specific special needs meaning he could not do the tests at all, but is included in our school results – parents and carers are often surprised to hear even pupils with quite extreme special needs are included in the league tables.
The BBC version of the league tables publishes the percentage of pupils reaching Level 5 (the level of a typical 14 year old) or more in both subjects. Our percentage is 45%.
Again, it’s useful to put that figure in a context. First of all, it’s very good, although not quite as high as some other high-performing schools. Our data for this particular class of children shows 61% of pupils achieved Level 5 in English and 52% in Maths. It can be a lottery of a kind to find out which of those children achieved Level 5 in both.
Additionally, the BBC describes this aspect of the league tables as ‘high-achieving pupils’.
However, we like to think that children who make lots of progress as high-achieving – and many of our children exceeded average progress expectations.
Moreover, in Maths, we have a high percentage of pupils who achieved not just Level 5 but Level 6: 13%. This is a result of their hard work at home, in class and at supplementary sessions – our Tough Stuff Maths club! (Very few pupils nationally achieved Level 6 in English – most teachers and headteachers were struck by just how hard the test for this was.) This year, we continue to challenge and support those with potential to work towards this very significant level.
Well done to all our pupils in the 2011-11 cohort. You achieved well socially, emotionally and academically. We’re proud of you all.