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Head blasts ‘inaccurate’ school tables

by Dan Thompson and Stuart Pike
10/ 1/2008

A HEAD has blasted "inaccurate" GCSE league tables ranking his school in the bottom three in the city, claiming they understate by a quarter the proportion of pupils that achieved expected grades.

The published result for North Manchester High School for Boys, in Blackley, shows just 27 per cent of pupils achieving five or more good grades.

Click here for the tables in full.

But headmaster Alan Chambers claims the real figure is 9 per cent higher - the school's "best GCSE results ever".

Mr Chambers said: "We're very unhappy and don't feel that the figures are accurate. It's a massive difference. If we get the 27 per cent figure published it could be enormously damaging."

The school believes the discrepancy is explained by the omission of online GCSE qualifications, and other business studies and ICT courses, which Mr Chambers claims is wrong. Including these courses, the school says 36 per cent of its 196 boys achieved five or more Cs, 15 per cent including Maths and English.

In response a Department for Children Schools and Families spokesperson said: "Since 2004 the Secondary (KS4) Tables give full recognition to the achievements of students in all approved qualifications, not just, GCSEs and GNVQs. The qualifications are only included when they have been through a rigorous QCA accreditation process which takes account of relative size and challenge across qualifications."

The school also recorded the highest absence rate in the region, although Mr Chambers claimed the stated 6.1 per cent truancy rate should be 5.7 per cent.

Plant Hill Arts College, also in Blackley, fared even worse for truancy with 6.8 per cent.

Both schools are set to be replaced under the Academy schools programme from September 2010.

Councillor Sheila Newman, executive member for children's services said: "We are working closely with all schools in the city and are redoubling our efforts to further drive up standards and improve outcomes for children and young people."

Pupils from King David High School, in Crumpsall, had the highest score of a non-selective, state school with 96 per cent of pupils achieving five good grades.The Eaton Road school was also the best performing institution in Manchester for A-level results.

Click here for the tables in full.