Ealing secondary pupils streak ahead of the national average

Borough third best in the capital for results of A-Levels and advanced studies

Ealing pupils who undertook A-Levels and other advanced studies in 2006 performed better than the national average, bringing the borough to third best in the capital.

According to figures released by the Department for Education and Skills today, only two other London boroughs - Havering and Sutton - provided better educational outcomes for school and college students aged 16 years and above last year.

Meanwhile, GCSE and equivalent figures - also released today - show Ealing pupils achieved results almost 3 percentage points above the national average. Building on significant improvement in 2005, this represents a massive 9 percentage point increase over the past two years, compared to 5.5 percentage points nationally.

For the first time, school and college achievement and attainment tables for post 16 outcomes have been extended to cover achievements in all approved qualifications, including vocational training - not just A Level and AS examinations.

Councillor Ian Gibb, deputy leader and cabinet member for children’s services, said “Under the extended point score system, Ealing schools are now above the average for the first time ever with an average 734.1 compared to the national average of 721.5.

“The borough is also well above the west London average of 675.5 and, of all the London boroughs, only Havering and Sutton now have better post 16 outcomes per student than Ealing.”

The number of Ealing pupils achieving five or more A*-Cs at GCSE or equivalent improved by a further 2.3 percentage points to 61.8%, almost 3 percentage points above the national average of 59.2%.

“The proportion of pupils achieving 5A*-C passes is now at 45% or more in every one of the borough’s schools,” Cllr Gibb said “The government target is for all schools to reach 30% by next year. Ealing schools have clearly met this challenge and easily exceeded the target.

The proportion of pupils achieving 5A*-C passes, including English and maths, also increased by a further 3 percentage points to 48.8% last year. There were also slight improvements in the proportion of pupils achieving 5A*-G (from 93.6% to 94.1%) and achieving any passes (from 98.3% to 98.5%). These figures remain well above the national averages of 90.5% and 97.8%. Ealing schools’ average point score has also improved by five points to 379. This is now 14 points above the national average.

January 12, 2007