To think our local comp is never going to turn around?

[Gales]

And be sad about it?

It's had 4 heads in the last 6 years. Just become an Academy. Was doing better on paper under the last head, but he left once he realised he wouldn't be able to fudge the figures by using GCSE "equivalents" anymore. (I have spoken to him about this, it is fact) Gets less than 20% with 5 A-C

At the nearest feeder school, only 50% of last years' yr6 went there, this year it will only be a third. It's not even easy to go elsewhere, involves and expensive bus ride and no guarantee of places.

So, while all the local families who have the means and the interest to send their DC elsewhere, is there any possibility of it ever improving, no matter who's in charge?

Intake, or social and economic factors, are by and large the biggest driver regarding results.

However, if a child hasn't the ability to get 5 A*-C, moving schools isn't going to cure that.

Do you like the school? Is pastoral good? Do the children who can succeed actually succeed? Have you looked at the CVA?

A good head will turn a school round. You just need a good one to want to take it on. But with 20% I assume it's close to special measures? Thats a good sign, money gets poured in, accelerated staff are put in place to drive through the changes.

The possibility of it improving with an excellent head and adequate funding is there, but I think schools will always be more affected by their intake than by anything else.

Holly, My DS1 was one of the 50% who didn't go there last year. I was very upset as I always thought I would support the local school, but when it came down to it I couldn't risk it for my son.

In answer to your questions, no I don't think pastoral is very good, terrible bullying problems.

I hated the attitude of staff when I went to visit - it was like they thought anyone who lives in the area is waste of time and effort, and "what can you expect" (yes lots of social problems here).

I also thought it was unlikely that an academic child would succeed there as there was so much emphasis on vocational qualifications, but that may change with the new league table criteria I suppose.

Unfortunately it will snowball with those stats.