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January 2010

League table rebellion justified

Response to GCSE League Tables: private schools attack 'flawed' rankings (Telegraph, 13 Jan)

This week has seen the publication of the DCFS league tables and yet once again the arguments for and against league tables are rehearsed.

The futility of attempting to compare schools is evident from this set of tables as IGCSEs are not counted and, as a result, some of the top schools in the country have been recorded as scoring a zero for percentage of pupils gaining five or more GCSEs.

Whilst this confusion may have led a number of independent schools this year to withdraw from the IGCSE, Roedean holds firm to its decision to mix and match. Roedean seeks to provide the most stimulating and challenging courses for its students and, as a consequence, offers IGCSE in Maths, Biology and Chemistry, whilst Physics and other subjects follow the GCSE route.

This year’s experience, during our merger year, of marking papers for both IGCSE and GCSE has confirmed that the level of challenge in Maths is best provided through the IGCSE syllabus where students are expected to rise to an understanding of higher level maths, such as differentiation, not demanded from the GCSE course, and thus serves as better preparation for A Level.

The School will continue to review its curriculum provision and, rather than be swayed by the pressures of league table status, will seek to offer the most exciting and appropriate qualifications on offer to our students.

For - Richard Cairns, Brighton College

Against - Anthony Seldon, Wellington College

The view from Peter Green, Ardingly College

By Frances King, Headmistress at Monday, 18 January 2010