The Lead School Commissioner presented a report that provided an executive summary and a more in depth analysis for the pupil outcomes at the age of 16 (GCSEs) as well as a brief summary of GCE outcomes.

It was reported that comparisons had been made with the results nationally wherever possible. However, many of the national results had not been published yet. When the statistical first releases were published the report would be amended.

It was noted that there had been ongoing changes to the content and grading system of GCSEs, making the subject content and exams far more challenging. In 2018 grading of outcomes in all curriculum subjects moved to a 9-1 scale, with grade nine being roughly equivalent to a top A* grade and a grade four equivalent to a low to mid-grade C.

Members were informed that in Wirral the percentage of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above in English continued to improve and was above the national average. Outcomes in English continued to be higher than in mathematics. Also, more disadvantaged pupils attained grade 4+ in English so the gap narrowed by 1.1%.

Members were also informed that nationally there was a decrease in the percentage of pupils achieving a grade 4 or higher in mathematics. In contrast Wirral’s results continued to improve and were above the national average. More disadvantaged pupils had attained grade 4+ in mathematics so the gap had narrowed by 1.6%.

The percentage of Wirral pupils attaining a Grade 4+ in English and Mathematics was well above the national average and showed an improvement from last year.

The Committee noted that attainment of both boys and girls nationally had increased. It was a similar picture for Wirral pupils. Nationally the gender gap has decreased, however the gender gap in Wirral had widened because more girls achieved higher grades than the boys.

It was noted that overall the Progress 8 measure for Wirral had increased slightly to 0.04 and was above the national average of - 0.02 and the North West average of - 0.16.  Wirral was ranked second in the North West.

The report provided a detailed analysis of pupil outcomes which could be used to measure the impact of work undertaken in the following pledges: 

·  Children are ready for school.

·  Young people are ready for work and adulthood.

·  Vulnerable children reach their full potential.

The report also provided a very detailed analysis of outcomes for all pupil groups at the end of Key Stage 4 and some very provisional key headlines for Key Stage 5 in the secondary phase of education.

Appended to the report was a paper that set out an Executive Summary in respect of the provisional outcomes at key stage 4 (November 2018).

Members asked the Lead School Commissioner a number of questions which were answered accordingly. Matters discussed included the following:

·  South Wirral seemed not to be achieving but only because the figures were skewed when looking at this by locality. The A Level results would not be made available until March so Members were looking at average point scores etc. as the only comparisons currently available. There had been massive reform in respect of A Levels as there was no longer course work or AS Levels.  Girls out performed boys and there was a need to focus on improving boys’ attainment.

·  The headlines were very positive and demonstrated significant improvement and there was a pattern of general improvement emerging.

·  There was not a standard way to teach maths. Officers were looking at strategies in place where it was done well.

·  There were no Grammar Schools in Wallasey.

RESOLVED:

That the report and its appendix be noted.