News Article 31

Schools ranked by raw GCSE results for last time

Schools in England are being judged on the basis of raw GCSE results for the last time, heralding the end of school league tables in their present form.

Head teachers are welcoming changes that means from next year, schools will be measured on a broader range of results across eight subjects.

The government says schools have risen to its moves to toughen standards.

The number of schools falling below the current floor standard has remained stable at 312.

Secondary schools are "underperforming" if fewer than 40% of pupils get five GCSEs at grade A*-C, including English and maths, and if the school has a below average score for pupils' progress.

The data is based on examinations taken last summer.

MY OPINION

When I was doing my GCSE'S, I found they were more of a memory test rather than testing your genuine knowledge and they didn't really help because I quickly forgot a vast majority of it. I think it is a good idea that they are going to start not using GCSE's alone anymore because success rates will go up and levels of education will improve. BBC News represented the story well, they had interactive diagrams and loads of information so I understood the story very clearly.