New statistics revealed that 28 schools around the Merseyside region failed to meet the government’s minimum standards in 2017.
The newest data analysis shows that 260,783 or one out of 12 children are now being taught at under-performing secondary schools in 2017 compared to 206,6991 in the year 2016.
This increase comes while England’s exams system is undergoing major changes, including the introduction of the ‘Progress 8’ grading system.
With this new grading system, the English and maths GCSE qualifications are awarded on a grade scale of 9-1(9 the highest and 1 the lowest) while other subjects still receive the usual A*-G grades.
This new system means that the progress of the pupils is calculated between the end of primary school and end of secondary schools. After getting the results of their eight GCSEs, the child’s achievements will be compared to that of the other youngsters with the same proficiency.
For a secondary school to be included on the list of under-performing schools, their pupils score half a grade less(-0.5) across eight GCSEs than the expected score, compared to the students of the same proficiency across the nation.
School leaders have criticized the new Progress 8 grading system, stating that it has complicated the calculation of the school performance, as it has to be accomplished using both the old and new grading systems.
Cllr Nick Small, Liverpool’s assistant mayor and cabinet member for education, admitted that even though they have seen improvements across the board, there is still a lot to do.
He also added that good schools and good teachers are doing incredible things, but the government still needs to focus on improving the standards and exam results. They also strive to provide the educational opportunities that the young people deserve.
For now, their focus is to improve the number of strong passes at Grade 5 to stretch pupils into achieving their potential.
The newly launched Liverpool Promise was also established with the goal of making the region’s education the best in the UK.
According to Cllr Nick Small, the government and their partners in schools and businesses will strive more to develop ambitions, link schools with businesses to prepare youngsters for work, and provide them careers on sectors they know will have growth in Liverpool in the future.
On the list of under-performing schools are as follows:
Hugh Baird 14-16 College, Bootle
The Hawthorne’s Free School, Bootle
Hillside High School, Bootle
Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, Ellesmere Port
University of Chester CE Academy, Ellesmere Port
All Saints Catholic High School, Knowsley
The Prescot School, Liverpool
St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Centre for Learning (VA), Liverpool
Kirkby High School, Liverpool
St Francis Xavier’s College, Liverpool
The De La Salle Academy, Liverpool
Fazakerley High School, Liverpool
Liverpool Life Sciences UTC, Liverpool
Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School, Liverpool
Birkenhead Park School, Birkenhead
Holly Lodge Girls’ College, Liverpool
Alsop High School Technology & Applied Learning Specialist College, Liverpool
Notre Dame Catholic College, Liverpool
Litherland High School, Liverpool
Hope Academy, Newton-le-Willows
University Academy, Warrington
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic College, Widnes
The Kingsway Academy, Wirral
St Helens College 14-16 Academy, St Helens
St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic High School, St Helens
St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School, St Helens
Haydock High School, St Helens
The Mosslands School, Wallasey
