This in from the council on the Island’s GCSE results. Ed
The number of Isle of Wight students achieving the key indicator of five or more A* – C grades at GCSE has risen sharply compared with 2009.
Provisional results released today for GCSE exams shows 70.4% of students achieved five or more A* – C grades on the Island. This compares to 57.8% in 2009 – a rise of over 12 percentage points, which is the largest single increase for more than a decade. This significantly closes the gap to the expected national average.
The percentage of students achieving five or more A* – C grades including English and Maths also rose significantly from 41.6% to 45.3% in 2010 which represents a rise of almost four percentage points.
All the Island’s five high schools have shown improvements on the key indicator of five or more A* – C grades. Ryde and Sandown have shown a rise of almost 16 percentage points on last year when compared to the last year both achieving 67% 5 A*-C grades.
Cowes has achieved 75% at 5 A*- C grades, while Medina has risen to 74%. This is a particularly notable improvement for Medina which is up from 56% in 2009.
Cowes High School is the Island’s highest performing school for both indicators.
Welcoming the results, Isle of Wight Council Director of Children and Young People Services Colin Peak said; “I am delighted with the increased overall performance of our high schools. I am particularly pleased with the improvements at Ryde and Sandown where results against both indicators have increased dramatically.
“We have now narrowed the gap with our young people achieving results much closer to the national average.”
Isle of Wight Council Leader David Pugh said; “I offer my congratulations to all the students, parents and staff who have helped achieve these unprecedented results. For many years, the Island was flat-lining at 44-45% on 5 A*-C grades. Over the past five years we have worked steadily to improve our results, culminating in this huge increase in 2010.
“This significant improvement has been secured whilst the Island’s education community prepares for the first stage of the schools reorganisation programme coming into place in September.
“These results provide a strong base for further improvements under the two-tier system. Our new secondary providers will build on this success from September 2011, drawing on the strengths that already exist in these school communities, and at the IW College. I am particularly pleased that our new academy sponsor – the Academies Enterprise Trust – has contributed to these results. This bodes well for their future management of Ryde and Sandown.
“The future of Island schools has been subject to much debate over recent years. Our clear direction for primary and secondary education, coupled with this welcome major uplift in results, shows that we remain on the right course to give all Island young people the best possible start in life.”
Isle of Wight Council’s Connexions service provides free information, advice and guidance for young people. Careers and personal advisers are happy to speak to anyone. Appointments can be arranged at the Youth Connexions Centre in Newport by calling (01983) 823490, via email to [email protected] or through schools and the IW College. The service is available to all young people aged 13-19 (up to 25 for young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities).
