Region’s best schools become beacons for rest of the country

Feb 28 2008 by Laura Sharpe, Liverpool Daily Post

FOUR Merseyside schools are being used as a benchmark for many others around the country.

Schools Minister Jim Knight singled out the schools from Liverpool, Wirral and Sefton for their top ranking among the country’s most improved schools after results were published today.

The Key Stage Three results for 14-year-olds look at how pupils are doing in maths, English and science. Four Merseyside schools are within the top 75 in the country, having improved most in the three key subjects over the past four years.

Savio High School, in Bootle, improved its aggregate score by 72 points, making it the fifth most improved school in the country.

De La Salle Humanities College and West Derby school in Liverpool, and St John Plessington Catholic College, Wirral, are also singled out for special praise.

Mr Knight said: "I am delighted to see the excellent sustained improvement at the schools in Merseyside over recent years.

“How pupils achieve at Key Stage 3 provides a firm foundation for their future achievement, whether they go down the academic path to GCSE, A-level or university, or if they take the vocational route via the new diplomas or apprenticeships, to their chosen career. The results at these four Merseyside schools set the benchmark for other schools to follow.”

Sefton, West Lancashire and Wirral all had results above the national average, with St Helens getting above average in maths and science but falling below in English.

Liverpool, Halton and Knowsley all fell short of the national average, and the average score for schools in urban areas across the North West.

Compared with the previous year’s results, St Helens, Liverpool, Knowsley and Sefton showed improvement, while Wirral dropped overall in English and science.

Halton improved its English and science results but dropped 2% in maths.

Cllr Paul Clein, Liverpool’s executive member for children’s services at Liverpool City Council, said the results were a step in the right direction.

He said: “I’m pleased two of the Liverpool schools have shown great improvement, but our aim is to get every pupil achieving above and beyond the national average.

“Our pupils are sharp, witty and intelligent, but we need to engage them with a curriculum that’s personalised so every pupil can reach their potential.

“These results are a step in the right direction but there’s more to be done.”

St John Plessington, which specialises in humanities and technology, is the most improved school in Wirral.

Overall ranked the fourth best performing school in the borough for value added, the school was one of very few to record five Year 9 pupils who all achieved Level Eight in their maths exams.

Deputy head Ian Walker said: “The pupils who have achieved these results have made their parents and teachers proud, and it shows some of the great work that is happening in the school.

“Last year, we got a record aggregate score in Key Stage Three and we had never achieved that before.”

Liverpool’s Blue Coat school achieved an almost perfect 299 out of 300 to lead the city in overall results, while King David High, a voluntary aided Jewish secondary, was ranked best in Liverpool for added value.

One of the city’s smallest schools, King David, achieved above 93% in all three subjects, although their aggregate score dropped 10 points from 2006.

Ian Lacey, in charge of pupil progress at King David High, said: “We’re pleased that pupils achieved level seven in all three subjects and level eight in maths.”

laurasharpe