Our pupils are top class

By dfarbrother david farbrother david.farbrother@essnmedia.co.uk

New Government league tables put Surrey schools near the top of the class when it comes to GCSE results.

The figures published on Wednesday last week by the Department for Children, Schools and Families relate to GCSE Key Stage 4 results for 2009.

Surrey was ranked 19th out of 149 education authorities, with more than seven out of 10 pupils gaining five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C.

But while headteachers have broadly welcomed the results, they said an element of common sense had to be applied when looking at the figures.

Paul Spencer Ellis, headteacher at Royal Alexandra and Albert School, Gatton Park, Reigate, said: "The headline figures don't really tell you everything.

"And you have to compare like for like. A comprehensive school in a sink estate may get a weaker cohort than a leafy Surrey school.

"The key figure to look at is the value added score."

A school's value added score is designed to show the progress a pupil has made during their time at a school, rather than simply their exam results.

Mr Spencer Ellis added: "On a value added basis, we are in the top 10 per cent in the country, and we're absolutely delighted. We've worked hard to push our C-D borderlines into Cs.

"I would say every pupil would maximise his potential more by going to a school with a higher value added score, than one with good headline GCSE results."

At St Bede's, Carlton Road, Redhill, headteacher Chris Curtis was delighted his school topped our East Surrey state schools table for GCSE passes.

But the school did not come out so well on the value added score.

Mr Curtis explained: "We are very pleased we matched the year before, which was a record-breaker.

"Our intake is genuinely comprehensive, but we start from a higher base than some schools, which does give us a problem as we have to not just match but exceed the education they've had before."

Peter Martin, Surrey County Council cabinet member for Children and Learning, said: "I am delighted to see the continued improvement from our young children and would like to say 'well done' to them.

"Being ranked among the top performers is a reflection of their dedication and the work put in by everyone to motivate and support them."