School and College (Post 16) Performance Tables 2001

HOW TO READ THESE TABLES

School or college particulars

The tables give the following details for each school and college:

• the address and telephone number;
• what type of school it is or whether it is a college;
• if a school is a designated arts, language, sports or technology college under the specialist schools programme;
• the admissions policy for schools (selective, comprehensive, modern, non-selective);
• whether the school or college is mainly for girls, boys or both;
• the main age range of the school or college; and
• the total number of students aged 17 and 18 at the start of the 2000/2001 academic year who were registered at the school or college in January 2001, regardless of what they were studying.

Some schools' and colleges' results may have been affected by the foot and mouth outbreak this year. The letters FM highlight schools that have been significantly affected by the outbreak.

Combined A level, AS and Advanced GNVQ results

The first part of the tables shows the combined achievements of 17 and 18 year olds at a school or college studying towards A level, AS and Advanced GNVQ qualifications. Advanced GNVQs are work-related qualifications that are broadly comparable in standard to two A levels and can also lead to an offer of a place in higher education or employment.

Students included in these columns may have only studied A level and AS examinations, they may have only taken an Advanced GNVQ or they may have chosen a combination of A levels, AS and Advanced GNVQ. Some may have also taken the opportunity to study new general and vocational A level and AS qualifications introduced as part of the Qualifying for Success reforms. For schools and colleges where students take combinations of A levels, AS and Advanced GNVQ, these columns provide a more complete picture of their achievements.

The columns show:

• the number of 17 and 18 year olds who, in the 2000/2001 academic year, were at the end of two years of advanced study and entered for A level, AS and/or Advanced GNVQ qualifications;
• the average point score per student;
• the average point score per examination entry.

Separate general A level and AS results

The second part of the tables shows achievements in A levels and AS only, including where applicable, results in the new A level and AS qualifications introduced as part of the Qualifying for Success reforms. For schools and colleges where students study combinations of A levels, AS and Advanced GNVQ or other vocational qualification, these columns will not give a complete picture of their achievements.

The columns show:

• the number of students who, in the 2000/2001 academic year, were at the end of their second year of advanced and entered for A level or AS qualifications; and
• the average point score per student.

Separate Advanced GNVQ and vocational A/AS results

The third part of the tables shows achievements in Advanced GNVQs only, and where applicable, results in the new vocational A level and AS qualifications introduced as part of the Qualifying for Success reforms. As before, for schools and colleges where students study additional qualifications alongside an Advanced GNVQ, these columns will not give a complete picture of their achievements.

The columns show:

• the number of students who, in the 2000/2001 academic year, were at the end of their second year of study towards an Advanced GNVQ; and
• the average point score per student.

Improvement Measure

In the past these tables have included an improvement measure showing A level results over time. However, A level performance has been assessed and presented this year in a very different way and the data published here is not comparable to anything published before. There will therefore be no improvement measure until we have a new time series of results.

The point score system

When students apply for a place in higher education, each pass grade they have in A level or AS examinations scores a certain number of points. The points for each grade are as follows:

A level, AS examinations and Advanced GNVQ qualifications score points in the tables. The points for each grade are as follows:

How the average point score per student is calculated

The point score system has been used to calculate an average point score per student, which depends on the number of qualifications taken by individual students as well as the grades they achieved.

Example 1 where students have only taken A level and AS examinations

Example 2 where students have only taken Advanced GNVQs

Example 3 where students have taken a combination of an A level and Advanced GNVQ

How the average point score per examination entry is calculated

The point score system has also been used to produce an average point score per examination entry, which does not depend on the number of examinations taken by individual students.

Example 4 where students have only taken A level and AS examinations

Example 5where students have taken a combination of an A level and Advanced GNVQ

Other vocational qualifications included

For the other advanced vocational qualifications reported on, the columns show the:

• number of 16-18 year olds who, in the 2000/2001 academic year, were at the end of their second year of study for a BTEC National qualification (Certificate or Diploma), or the City and Guilds Diploma of Vocational Education at National level; and
• the percentage of students who achieved these qualifications.

BTEC National Diplomas and Certificates and the City and Guilds Diploma of Vocational Education at National level are similar in standard to A levels and are qualifications that can lead to an offer of a place in higher education or employment.

For intermediate vocational qualifications, the columns show the:

• number of 16-18 year olds who, in the 2000/2001 academic year, were at the end of their first year of study for an Intermediate GNVQ, a BTEC First qualification (Diploma or Certificate) or a City and Guilds Diploma of Vocational Education at Intermediate level; and
• the percentage of students who achieved these qualifications.

Intermediate GNVQs are broadly equivalent to four GCSEs at grades A* to C.

Not all schools and colleges enter students for these vocational qualifications.

International Baccalaureate

A few schools and colleges offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma. The IB Diploma is a broad-based qualification at A level standard, which can lead to higher education.

The final column shows the:

• number of 16-18 year olds entered for an IB Diploma in the 2000/2001 academic year; and
• percentage achieving the qualification.

Local and national averages

Under each LEA area heading, there are local average figures based on the results of all Further Education sector colleges and state schools in the area covered by the LEA. The foot of each page shows national average figures based on the results of all schools and Further Education sector colleges. You may wish to compare the results of individual schools and colleges with these local and national averages.

Special schools

Children who need more specialised teaching and facilities may go to special schools. Special schools with sixth form students may choose to be included in the School and College Performance Tables.

Sixth form centres and consortia

In some areas, to pool resources and offer a wider range of post-16 courses to students, schools and colleges cooperate in a group known as a sixth form centre or consortium. Where schools and colleges are known to be part of a sixth form centre or consortium, a symbol will appear in these tables next to the age range of the school or college. The centre or consortium will also be named and its results shown separately towards the end of the tables, together with the names of the participating schools and colleges.