Where does your school rank in provisional Progress 8 and GCSE results 2017 in Suffolk?

This is provisional data which does not include remarks. Revised data will be released in January 2018 and finalised data in Spring 2018.

Suffolk has climbed more than 50 places in the national secondary school league table in five years after GCSE results improved, the provisional data has shown.

Gordon Jones, education cabinet member at Suffolk County Council, praised the authority’s signature Raising the Bar scheme for delivering the results. But Labour questioned the rate of progress and being in the bottom half of authorities.

Yesterday’s provisional government data showed 62.4% of GCSE students in Suffolk achieved at least a grade 4 in English and maths this year, ranking Suffolk 85th out of 151 local authorities.

In 2012, Suffolk was ranked 142nd, prompting outrage and the Raising the Bar scheme.

The 2017 results included the first phase of the 0-9 numerical grading system – just English and maths this year – replacing the A*-G system by 2020. The reforms of former education secretary Michael Gove reflect a tougher, more traditional curriculum.

The difference between the Suffolk and England state school average has fallen from 8.4% points in 2012 to 1.1% in 2017.

Mr Jones said: “Students continue to make above average progress, closing the attainment gap to national. Through our Raising the Bar programme, schools are driving up standards.”

Jack Abbott, Labour Group’s spokesman for education, said: “We want to be in the top 10, 20. Being 85th after five years is questionable. I think this is reasonably slow progress. How much money is being spent? With the new funding formula, I would be hammering down Justine Greening’s (education secretary) door. Quite frankly, we need it.”

Essex scored 64.9% in GCSE results. Ray Gooding, education cabinet member at Essex County Council, praised schools for tackling the challenging reforms.

Schools

Heads have faced an anxious wait since GCSE results day in the summer to find out how they compare locally and nationally. They received their individual results earlier this week.

Parents of Year 6 pupils will also be able to use the data to better inform their decision on where to send their children next September.

East Point Academy, Lowestoft

The school recorded the top Progress 8 score in the county at +0.69, putting them in the top 3% nationally.

The achievement confirms the remarkable improvements at the academy, which joined the Inspiration Trust in special measures less than three years ago.

Principal Richard Dolding said: “It is a fantastic achievement for Lowestoft that East Point Academy has the best progress score in Suffolk and is among the top 3% in the country.

“These progress measures show that with the right encouragement and support students in our town can be the equal of any in the whole country.”

Copleston High School, Ipswich

The school was second (0.51) in the provisional Progress 8 Suffolk league table. Combined with its GCSE score (67%), it was the school’s best-ever results.

Principal Shaun Common said: “I would just like to congratulate all staff, students and governors on the outstanding outcomes at Key Stage 4 this year. These are the best results in the history of the school placing the school second in Suffolk and in the top five schools in the region. This is a truly wonderful achievement and is due to the hard work of all our staff and students.”

Felixstowe Academy

The school was in the bottom four, with a well below average score of -0.6.

Principal Anthony Williams said: “We are disappointed with the headline figures, particularly for the students. However, as part of the Academy’s robust improvement plan, issues around curriculum provision and quality of teaching have been addressed and we are confident that progress and achievement is rapidly improving now and will continue to improve.”

Ormiston Denes Academy, Lowestoft

The school was one of the fastest-improving in the country for Progress 8, which rose by 0.8 ponts, from -0.68 last year to 0.12 this year.

In addition, the proportion of students at the school who gained the new grade 4 in English and mathematics also increased to 53% - up by 20 percentage points on the 2016 results.

Ben Driver, principal, said: “We are delighted that our students have performed so strongly, demonstrating the outstanding value Ormiston Denes adds to their education.

“It confirms how good our GCSE results were this year - record results that only happened because of dedicated teachers, the ongoing support of our parents and our sponsor, Ormiston Academies Trust, and most importantly the relentless hard work of a fantastic cohort of students.”

Free Schools

The Seckford Foundation Free Schools Trust, which runs Beccles, Saxmundham and Ixworth free schools, is celebrating its Progress 8 performance table positions, with all three schools in the top 10 secondary schools in Suffolk for the progress all students have made since age 11.

Saxmundham Free School is fifth in the league table with a Progress 8 score of 0.48, whilst Beccles Free School is joint sixth with a score of 0.46, and Ixworth Free School is eighth with a score of 0.45.

Graham Watson of the Seckford Foundation Free Schools Trust said: “The Progress 8 scores are testament to our strength of teaching in key subjects like maths and English, our small and friendly school environments, and the variety of enrichment opportunities available for all students

“We believe Progress 8 is the fairest measure when comparing schools, and it should be a key consideration for parents when choosing a school for their children.”

Ipswich Academy

Helen Winn, principal, said: “We are delighted with our Progress 8 figure which is showing that our students made positive progress. This is the best progress figure in the history of the academy and reflects the hard work of the students and the staff.”

Chantry Academy

Principal Craig D’Cunha said: “We are celebrating our third successive year of improved Progress 8 scores, which is a superb achievement. This year’s results across the suite of eight subjects show that our students made half a grade better progress than two years ago. This included strong progress in maths, English and ‘open’ subjects which all had a positive impact on our overall score.

“The progress made by our disadvantaged students is also excellent and has exceeded the national average.”

Alde Valley Academy

Principal Michael Wilson: “We are thrilled with our result of +0.46 which shows that we are achieving very significantly above national benchmarks and clearly demonstrates the outstanding quality of teaching and learning that takes place within our school. Students at Alde Valley achieve significantly better than their prior attainment would suggest for all groups of learners.

“This goes hand-in-hand with the excellent results the school achieved at GCSE level this summer and represents a truly phenomenal outcome for the school.”

Castle Manor Academy

Vanessa Whitcombe, headteacher, said: “Castle Manor have shown rapid improvements in results this year with an indicative progress 8 score of +0.22. This is an increase of 0.48 from last year, indicating that on average every student in every subject increased results by almost half a grade.

“Our maths results show particular excellence, with a progress score of +0.44 putting us around the top 10% of similar schools in maths nationally.”

Progress 8/Attainment 8

Yesterday’s results put the spotlight back on Progress 8 and Attainment 8 scores. We explain what they are.

Attainment 8 forms the basis of Progress 8, so let’s start with that. Pupils finishing Year 6 get a predicted Attainment 8 score (based on comparitve national peers) for Year 11.

The Attainment 8 score in Year 11 is based on points (0 to 9) from eight subjects: English and maths (double weighted), three Ebacc subjects (sciences, geogaphy, history, languages), and three other approved subjects/Ebaccs. The 10 individual scores are totalled (e.g. 34) and divided by 10 (3.4). This is a pupil’s average Attainment 8 score. Empty ‘slots’ (unapproved subjects like applied science) scores 0, skewing results.

Progress 8 captures the progress made between the end of primary school and the end of secondary school. It shows the rate of progress that students make during their time at secondary schools. A plus score indicates they did better than predicted across all grades on average. A negative score shows they did worse than they should have done according to the Year 6 estimate. It is: the actual Attainment 8 score (e.g. 3.4) minus the estimated Attainment 8 score (e.g. 3.3,). That’s why you get low scores. Here, the pupil did 0.1 better in every subject.