MELKSHAM Oak Community School is celebrating above average GCSE results as the national secondary school performance tables were released last week.
The performance tables, published by the Department for Education, compare results at GCSE and A-level for secondary schools throughout England. The tables show most schools nationally recorded worse results than previous years due to controversial new testing rules.
In 2014, 56% of Melksham Oak pupils recorded five or more A*-C GCSEs including English and maths. This is down 3% from the previous year’s figure of 59% but this decrease is far lower than the average 6% decrease that schools nationally are seeing.
Melksham Oak’s 56% compares favourable to the national average of 53% and the Wiltshire average, which is also 56%. Melksham Oak is ranked 17th in Wiltshire following the latest GCSE results – up from 23rd the previous year.
The school’s results, which continues to see improve year-on-year, has pleased deputy headteacher Owen Vince who said, “We are really pleased with the results as it is testament to the hard work our teachers, staff and pupils put in on a daily basis.
“The results show we are continuing to improve and we have come a long way since 2009 when 31% got five or more A*-C GCSE’s including maths and English, and we are seeing massive improvements from when the children arrive in year seven.
“We are already full for the next academic year starting in September and that is testament to what the Melksham community think of us and we are becoming a desirable school to attend. Results show we have an excellent record of getting the best out of pupils and their progress through their time with us shows that.
“We feel it is important to look at the overall development of each pupil that attends Melksham Oak. We make strategic decisions for young people that will help them develop as a person, in education and going forward into employment. We look at more than the exam results and aim to develop each individual as much as we can.
“We have been successful in recent years and now the challenge is to continue that success and progress. We are a great school and whilst we celebrate these results, we now look to push on.”
Speaking about the changes to the way results are recorded Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said, “For too long pupils were offered courses of no value to them and schools felt pressured to enter young people for exams before they were ready.
“By stripping out thousands of poor quality qualifications and removing re-sits from tables, some schools have seen changes in their standings.
“But fundamentally young people’s achievement matters more than being able to trumpet ever higher grades.”
A-Levels
A-level results also revealed the school is performing well. Every pupil that entered the A-level exams passed at least one subject whilst 90% achieved at least two A-levels at A*-E, 62% achieved at least 3 A-levels at A*-E and 2% achieved A,A,B results or higher.
Melksham Oak is ranked 20th in Wiltshire, up from 25th the previous year, following the latest A-level results (based on average points scored per A-level entry).
For more information on Melksham Oak’s performance and to see the updated performance tables visit www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/
