A SCHOOL that is working to maximise students’ chances of success has been ranked among the best in the country.
Richmond School and Sixth Form College has moved into the top 25 per cent in the country thanks to individualised learning programmes and constant monitoring by staff.
The most recent examination results, just ratified, saw students record excellent success at GCSE with 72 per cent securing the benchmark five A*-C grades, including the all-important maths and English, putting the school among the best in the country.
Results were an impressive four per cent higher than the previous year against a backdrop nationally that saw a fall from 60 to 55 per cent.
Even the first entry – winter exams considered by many educationalists to be a dry run for the summer finals – saw almost 60 per cent achieve the benchmark standard.
Another barometer of success – added value – also saw a dramatic increase from a creditable 992 score to an outstanding 1017. Added value is calculated by comparing an initial assessment of students’ abilities in Year 7, predicting their achievement in Year 11 and contrasting this with their final results.
A new Government indicator, the English Baccalaureate, saw Richmond School exceed the national average with 36 per cent of students achieving the qualification compared to a 24 per cent average across the country.
“I could not be happier on a daily basis with what I see,” said head teacher Ian Robertson. “I don’t think we have ever been in such a healthy position and if I had children of school age I would be fighting to get them into Richmond School and Sixth Form College.
“The success comes thanks to a principle of caring about each student and ensuring they make the maximum amount of progress possible. It is about having high quality teachers who put the students at the centre of their attention and provide support if they are not making the progress we know they are capable of doing.”
Individualised learning programmes, involving parents and careful monitoring of students by teachers and support staff were paying dividends for the 1,558 children at the school, he said.
Last year had seen excellent results, new facilities, including a sports pavilion, success at a national level in girls cricket, chamber choir and hockey, opportunities for students to travel abroad, improved business links and apprenticeships.
Of last year’s school leavers, every single one went into further education, training or employment.
All sixth formers managed to secure a place in the university of their choice and a fifth are now reading degrees at the top echelon of Russell Group establishments.
Four of this year’s sixth form have already been offered places at Oxford and Cambridge universities.
“We have had a great year and 2015 promises to be even better as we build steadily on this success,” Mr Robertson said.
“Very shortly we will have a new governing body in place who can support us in taking the school to the next level.”
