POOLE’S primary schools have been ranked among the worst performing in England in today’s league tables.

Borough of Poole was ranked second from bottom out of 152 local authorities for standards of reading, writing and maths among 11-year-olds, with only 73 per cent of pupils achieving the benchmark level 4 in tests.

 

In Bournemouth the percentage was 81 per cent, placing the authority joint tenth alongside 13 other councils. For Dorset, 78 per cent of pupils met the target, placing it joint 13th alongside 17 other councils. Hampshire was joint eighth with 83 per cent.

Borough of Poole’s cabinet member for children and young people, councillor Mike White, said the authority had committed an extra £140,000 to improve leadership and performance monitoring in schools.

“We know more work needs to done to address the variations in educational outcomes across all age groups, particularly at Key Stage 2,” he said.

“We are absolutely determined to ensure all children and young people in Poole have the best chance to achieve their full potential.

“The council has developed a new strategy for school improvement to accelerate progress and ensure consistent and sustainably high outcomes in the future.”

As well as additional funding, the council said it has commissioned experienced educational professionals to deliver targeted programmes within individual schools. Also, Cllr White said, it is improving support and communication between schools and liaising with the regional schools commissioner to ensure academies are held to account.

Within Poole, Baden-Powell and St Peter’s Junior School was ranked first with 98 per cent of students, 93 per cent and 95 per cent of students meeting standards in reading, writing and maths respectively.

At the other end of the scale, Manorside Primary School, which has since become Manorside Academy, saw 62 per cent, 38 per cent and 65 per cent of students meet standards in the same categories.

In Bournemouth, Queen’s Park Academy was the top performing with 99 per cent meeting at least level 4 in reading, and 98 per cent hitting the benchmark in both maths and writing. In the wider Dorset area, Mudeford Junior School had ratings of 100 per cent in all three measures.

The authority’s cabinet member for education, cllr Nicola Greene, said: “Bournemouth results for children in primary schools have improved year on year and in 2015 results are at their highest ever levels."

“We recognise the efforts of all pupils, staff and parents in achieving these results and will continue to work closely in partnership with schools to ensure our children are reaching their fullest potential.”

Dorset County Council cabinet member for children and young people Toni Coombs said: “We challenge and support Dorset’s schools to drive up improvement.

"Our results compare well nationally, but we are never complacent and know there are areas to improve and do even better.”

See the tables here

Key: 

  • a. The number of pupils on roll eligible for assessment in National Curriculum Key Stage 2 tests this year
  • b. The percentage of pupils achieving Level 4 - the expected level for the age group - or above in the reading test
  • c. Of pupils included in the progress measure, the percentage of pupils who have made at least two levels of progress in reading between the ages of seven and 11
  • d. The percentage of pupils achieving Level 4 - the expected level for the age group - or above in writing (this is assessed by teachers)
  • e. Of pupils included in the progress measure, the percentage of pupils who have made at least two levels of progress in writing between the ages of seven and 11
  • f. The percentage of pupils achieving Level 4 - the expected level for the age group - or above in the maths test
  • g. Of the pupils included in the progress measure, the percentage of pupils who have made at least two levels of progress in maths between the ages of seven and 11
  • h. The percentage of pupils achieving Level 4 or above in both the reading and maths tests and in writing
  • i. The school's average points score. Pupils sitting the National Curriculum tests are given a set number of points for the level they achieve. Level 2 or below is worth 15 points, Level 3 is worth 21 points, Level 4 is worth 27 points, Level 5 is worth 33 points etc. A pupil's average points score is calculated on their reading, writing and maths results and these are then used to calculate the school's average points score.
  • j. The ranking within its own Local Authority which each school achieves, according to the percentage of pupils achieving Level 4 or above in reading, writing and maths.