Top of the class

School league tables have revealed that Dukeries College, Ollerton, is the best secondary school in Nottinghamshire for pupils’ progress.

The school was ranked the best out of 47 schools in the county for its contextual value added score of the 14 year olds who took tests at the end of National Curriculum key stage three last year.

The contextual value added score is used to indicate how much progress pupils have made since entering the school, taking into account previous attainment levels, their scores compared to similarly placed pupils at other schools, and their socio-economic background.

A score of around 100 is the target level. Dukeries scored 101.

Although it was the best for valued added, the school was 39th in the county with a score of 196 out of 300 for its standard attainment target test results.

The national average score was 223.

Pupils were tested in English, maths and science.

In these subjects, 70%, 64% and 62% of pupils achieved level five of the National Curriculum, the level expected of 14 year olds.

The college principal, Mr Danny Smith, said: “I cannot commend highly enough the efforts of the students involved, and the staff.

“CVA is a fairer comparison between schools than just bold figures and I feel we can improve that even further.

“We are doing the best job in Nottinghamshire by this measure but we are not complacent at all, and we want the very best for our students.”

Newark High School and Magnus Church of England School, Newark, were ranked among the worst 100 in the country for their key stage three scores.

Newark High School was the worst out of the 47 schools in Nottinghamshire, and among the ten worst-scoring schools nationally.

Only one-third of the pupils assessed achieved level five of the National Curriculum in English.

Magnus Church of England School, Newark’s score of 164 out of 300 meant it was placed in the bottom 10% of schools nationally.

Both schools were also in the bottom 5% of schools nationally for their scores regarding contextual value added.

Newark High is set to close in July and will become part of the Grove School, Balderton, which scored 208 out of 300, ranking it 31st out 47 schools.

Tuxford School was ranked ninth in Nottinghamshire for its aggregate score of 250, and was second best for its CVA score of 100.9.

The deputy head, Mr David Cotton, said: “We are very pleased with the results, which are down to the hard work of the staff and students throughout the year.”

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, the level expected of 15 and 16 year olds.

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 2390 (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).