Lost for words
New league tables rank Newark High School and Magnus Church of England School among the worst 100 in the country for test scores in basic subjects, and for progress made by 14-year-olds.
The Key Stage Three results for year nine pupils also show Newark High’s score of 101 out of 300 to be the worst of the 47 schools in Nottinghamshire, and among the ten worst in the country.
The tests cover the three basic subjects of English, maths and science.
The Magnus’s score of 164 puts it in the bottom 10% of schools nationally.
Both schools are also in the bottom 5% of schools nationally for adding value.
This shows how much progress pupils make since entering the school, taking into account their socio-economic background.
The Grove, Balderton, scored 208 in English, maths and science, placing it 31st equal of the county’s 47 schools.
Newark’s MP, Mr Patrick Mercer, said the only solution to the poor performances was complete reform.
He said: “The staff are fantastic but they need the proper resources.
“Results are skewed by so many of our youngsters being pulled away by the Lincolnshire schools.
“Many of our children have a huge disadvantage when they get to secondary school, because up to 40% of our primary school children have special educational needs.
“These children come from some of the most disadvantaged backgrounds in the East Midlands. That is a fact about Newark.
“This needs to change if things are to improve.
“Families and parents need as much help as they can get, which is part of the socio-economic regeneration of the town into a much more vibrant and optimistic one.”
Mr Mercer believed new and improved buildings would kick start a positive change.
Newark High is to close in July and its buildings will become known as The Lilley and Stone campus for the Grove School.
The Grove is set to be rebuilt and the Magnus refurbished.
The acting head of Newark High, Mr Robin Blackley, said they performed particularly badly in science.
He said this was because of a problem recruiting science teachers.
He said: “We draw pupils from a community whose literacy levels are among the worst in the country.
“By the end of year 11 we have a very different result but it is not something done in a short period.”
Mr Blackley said English scores were predicted to be good at the end of key stage four as a result of radical changes that had not yet had an effect at key stage three. He said the school roll had also decreased in recent years, affecting scores.
Despite this, Mr Blackley believed the school’s poor reputation was undeserved.
He said: “We do not attract parents who go out and ask questions, and are aggressive in looking where to send their children.
“These are usually middle-class, professional families, so we have not got a general cross-section of the community.”
The head of the Grove, Mrs Patricia Head, said: “I am pleased with this solid set of results which show 70% of our students are hitting level five or above.
“The CVA scores show our pupils make good progress even though they are all coming from different starting points, but we will keep trying to improve.”
The head of the Magnus School, Mr Ian Anderson, was not available. Senior teachers refused to comment in his absence.
A spokesman for Nottinghamshire County Council said: “We recognise that standards at key stage three need to improve and the local authority has a comprehensive action plan in place to support and challenge schools.
“We are employing a number of significant interventions, including monitoring visits each term, support in core subjects, leadership support and other action as appropriate.
“We are committed to ensuring that educational standards improve for all our young people.”
Southwell Minster had an aggregate score of 277, meaning it was ranked as the second best school in the county.
The number of pupils achieving level five in English, maths and science were 94%, 92% and 91% respectively. Their scores also show 80% were hitting level six in maths, an achievement expected of 16-year-olds.
Toot Hill School, Bingham, was ranked the joint-third best school in the county with a score of 265, along with Rushcliffe School, West Bridgford. It was ranked joint 22nd for its CVA score of 99.6.
The Dukeries College, Ollerton, was ranked the best in the county for its CVA score of 101, even though it was placed 39th with a score of 196 for its results in English, maths and science. Its aggregate scores showed that in English, maths and science, 70%, 64% and 62% of pupils achieved level five of the National Curriculum, the level expected of 14-year-olds.
Tuxford School was ranked ninth in Nottinghamshire for its aggregate score of 250, and was second best for its CVA score of 100.9.
Many Newark area parents choose to send their children to Sir William Robertson School, Welbourn. It had an aggregate score of 240, and a CVA score of 99.6.
All Newark area schools lag behind top selective schools in Lincolnshire. The King’s School, Grantham, scored 299 out of 300, and 100.7 for CVA. The Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School scored 298 in the three subjects, and 100.3 for CVA. Kesteven and Sleaford High School scored 297 out of 300, and 100.3 for the CVA.
Schools’ aggregate scores, and their Nottinghamshire ranking out of 47 schools in brackets: Southwell Minster 277 (2); Toot Hill, Bingham 265 (3); Tuxford 250 (9); Sir William Robertson 240 (N/A); All Saints’ Roman Catholic, Mansfield 23 (13); Colonel Frank Seely, Calverton 236 (15); Radcliffe Dayncourt 233 (16); Grove 208 (31); Dukeries College, Ollerton 196 (39); Magnus 164 (45); Newark High 101 (47).
Schools’ contextual value added scores, and their Nottinghamshire ranking out of 47 schools in brackets: Dukeries College, Ollerton 101 (1); Tuxford 100.9 (2) Toot Hill, Bingham 99.6 (22); Sir William Robertson, Welbourn 99.6 (N/A); Colonel Frank Seely, Calverton 99.5 (25); Southwell Minster 99.5 (25); All Saints’ Roman Catholic, Mansfield 98.8 (37); Grove 98.8 (37); Magnus 98.1 (44); Radcliffe Dayncourt 98.1 (44); Newark High 96.7 (47).
