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, Science, Mathematics and Computing, Engineering, Humanities, Music or Business and Enterprise 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 16, 17 and 18 at the start of the 2003/04 academic year that were registered at the school or college in January 2004, regardless of what they were studied.

The 2004 results

The General and Vocational A level, AS examination, Key Skills at Level 3 and International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma results were provided by the Awarding Bodies concerned and made available to schools and colleges for checking in September 2004. The schools and colleges themselves provided the other specified vocational qualification results and Advanced Extension Award results included in the Tables.

If a school or college did not confirm that it had checked its examination results and/or background information, the respective initials 'R' or 'B' (or both) appear after its age range.

General and Vocational A level and AS results and Key Skills at Level 3

The first part of the Tables shows the combined achievements of 16, 17 and 18 year olds at a school or college studying towards General (GCE) and/or Vocational (VCE) A levels, Advanced Subsidiary (AS) qualifications and Key Skills at Level 3. Following reforms in recent years the majority of GCE A level students study towards AS qualifications in the first year before progressing to a full A level qualification the following year, though some may undertake additional AS study in their second year. The results achieved in both most recent academic years (2002/03 and 2003/04) are included here. However, in cases where a student achieved an AS pass and an A level pass in the same subject, only the A level pass is counted.

The columns show:

• the number of 16, 17 and 18 year olds who, in 2003/04, were entered for at least one GCE/VCE A level or VCE A level Double Award;
• the average point score per student;and
• the average point score per examination entry.

Both average point score calculations have been based on the cumulative achievement of students over two years (2002/03 and 2003/04).

The point score system

When students apply for a place in higher education, each pass grade they obtain in certain qualifications scores a certain number of points. The Tables use a point score system based on the tariff used by UCAS. It is broken down as follows:

TABLE 1

How the average point score per student is calculated

The average point score per student is calculated as the sum of the points awarded to each 16-18 year old student, using the point scoring system shown above, divided by the total number of 16-18 year old students entered for a GCE/VCE A level or key skill at Level 3. For example:

If student A achieves 2 GCE A levels at grade B, a VCE A level at grade C and a GCE AS pass at grade D, they would score 310 points (100 + 100 + 80 + 30).

If student B achieves 1 VCE Double Award at grade AB and a VCE A level at grade B, and a key skill at Level 3 they would score 340 points (220 + 100 + 20).

If student C achieves 1 GCE A level at grade B, and 3 GCE A levels at grade D, they would score 280 points (100 + 60 + 60 + 60).

Average point score per student

How the average point score per examination entry is calculated

The average point score per examination entry is calculated as the sum of the points awarded to each 16-18 year old student, divided by the total number of GCE/VCE examination entries. For this calculation, as set out in Table 1, a GCE/VCE A level is equal to one entry, a VCE A level Double Award is equal to two entries, a GCE/VCE AS level is equal to half an entry and a key skill at Level 3 is equal to one sixth of an entry. Using the above example:

Average point score per examination entry

Other vocational qualifications included

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

• the number of 16-18 year olds who, in the 2003/04 academic year, were at the end of their second year of full-time 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 one or more of 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 which 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 2003/04 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.

For Advanced Extension Awards, the columns show:

• the number of 16-18 year olds who, in the 2003/04 academic year, were entered for an Advanced Extension Award; and
• the percentage of students who achieved this qualification.

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

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

Some schools and colleges offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) 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 2003/04 academic year; and
• the percentage achieving the qualification.

Local LSC, LEA and national averages

Under each LSC 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 LSC. This is shown at the foot of each page just above the national average. The national average figures are based on the results of all schools and Further Education sector colleges. Where the LSC is made up of a number of LEAs, the LEA average is also shown at the top of that LEA's data alongside the LEA name. You may wish to compare the results of individual schools and colleges with the published local LSC, LEA 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 Post-16 Achievement and Attainment 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 co-operate together 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.

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