Impressive GCSE results yet again for Southend schools

January 25, 2019 by Leigh-on-sea.com

Secondary schools in Southend are celebrating after statistics published yesterday (Thursday 24 January) confirmed the schools performed above the national* average in their GCSE results.

Revised results released by the Department for Education, alongside the secondary school performance tables show that 55.3% of students in Southend secondary schools achieved grade 5 or above in English & Maths combined, up from 54.1% in 2017. This result places Southend 10th in the country compared to other local authorities and is above the national average of 43.3%. Grade 5 is now the threshold considered to be a ‘strong pass’ by the Department for Education.

Southend students also performed above the national average in Attainment 8, ranking 13th in the country with a score of 52.0 compared to the national of 46.5. This is an improvement on the 2017 score of 50.4. In the Progress 8 measure Southend is ranked 32nd with a score of 0.14 compared to national score of –0.02, again showing improvement from last year’s score of 0.06.

In Southend, 43.8% of students entered all components of the English Baccalaureate compared to 38.4% last year, with an average point score per pupil of 4.61. This is compared to 38.4% of all students nationally entering and a national average point score of 4.04.

Cllr Helen Boyd, cabinet member for children and learning, said: “It is a huge honour to be able to announce that Southend secondary schools are yet again continuing on this upward trend and improving year on year.

“With improved grades in English and Maths, and also a greater level of progression from children all across the board, Southend students are taking big steps towards brighter futures. I would like to congratulate all pupils, but also offer my thanks to the teachers and everyone who plays their part inour children’s education.

“Even with these fantastic results, we will not ‘rest on our laurels’, we will continue to educate and guide our young people through school and onto adult working life where they can have a real impact on the future of this town.”