COLLEGES and schools in Worcestershire had a mixed performance when it came to A-level results last year.

In the county, the overall total point score for 2010 equates to 704.5, which has dropped slightly from 707.7 in 2009.

It is also lower than the average point score nationally per candidate who entered for level 3 qualifications which stands at 732.9, this average being lower than the previous year’s national figure of 739.3.

A spokesman for Worcestershire County Council said: “In terms of A-levels, the initial figures show that the average point score per student has remained more or less constant.”

Michael Kitkatt, principal of Worcester Sixth Form College, said that while the performance figures were down slightly on last year they were still very proud of their performance.

In 2010, the college, in Spetchley Road, got an average point score per student of 762.0, while in 2009 it got 790.7.

But Mr Kitkatt said they were still on an “upward trend”.

“While it is not quite as good as last year, where we had an exceptional year, we still did well. We are on an upward trend from the year before that. We are very experienced at A-levels, we had 617 at the end of the A-level year achieving the exams, and they worked very hard for that. Our staff also are very experienced at teaching students A-levels and Btech’s. So we are very proud of the staff and students who have worked so hard yet again.

He added: “If you look at our value added scores too, students are performing better than the national statistics, which we are also very proud of.”

Private schools in the area were way above the national average. The King’s School, achieved a figure of 932.7 and RGS Worcester 862.9. The King’s School deputy headteacher Sue Hincks said: “We are delighted with the number of A* at A-levels we received, which was 21.5 per cent, with the national average lying at eight per cent. We had a number of pupils achieving excellent grades in the key subjects.”

RGS Worcester head Andrew Rattue added: “I’m delighted with our performance, particularly in the strategically important and vulnerable subjects.”

• Click the link below for the full table as it appears in today's Worcester News.

school_league_tables.pdf

Truancy figures

WORCESTER’S academy school Tudor Grange is among the worst 200 schools for persistent absence, figures today show.

The school, on Bilford Road, which transformed from the troubled Elgar Technology College in September 2009, fell into the table this year for the amount of pupils who were persistently absent from class.

The school had 12.4 per cent of pupils persistently absent compared to the county average of 3.8 per cent.

Headteacher Claire Maclean they were still experiencing absences in the older age group but the situation was improving in the younger year groups. “The figures reflect what the situation was but we are not resting on this and we are dealing with those who are absent as we know who they are. We have two full time members of staff who deal with this situation.

“They do home visits each day to students who don’t attend. Parents are also fully informed on the situation. We are also focusing on getting the curriculum right.

“If the student feels they are making progress, they are more likely to attend,” she added.

A spokesman for Worcestershire county council said: “Attendance figures show an improvement with overall absence falling from 7.4 per cent in 2009 to 6.6 per cent in 2010.

The number of pupils who have 80 per cent or less attendance, or “persistent absence” fell from 6.2 per cent to 3.8 per cent.”