Head of NLCS left suddenly?

[dreadingthetime]

Can current parents shed light on this please?

[changedforthis1]

Name changed for this as i don't normally make it clear where my children/step children go to school...

Lots of Whatsapp conversations, as you can imagine. Thinking is that it's related to the overinflated A level results from last year that made the Sunday Times. School mounted a spirited defence at the time but even parents were taken aback. By now school will have a good idea from internal exams how this year are likely to do, and if it looks like it will be a drop down, more questions will be asked and the suspicion is that the answers won't be good.

[pkim123]

@changedforthis1

Name changed for this as i don't normally make it clear where my children/step children go to school...

Lots of Whatsapp conversations, as you can imagine. Thinking is that it's related to the overinflated A level results from last year that made the Sunday Times. School mounted a spirited defence at the time but even parents were taken aback. By now school will have a good idea from internal exams how this year are likely to do, and if it looks like it will be a drop down, more questions will be asked and the suspicion is that the answers won't be good.

NLCS was the #1 grade inflator in the country. It set such a bad example and I think did a real disservice to the students.
www.londonworld.com/education/ps21k-a-year-north-london-private-school-gave-as-for-more-than-90-of-all-2021-a-level-exams-3560102

[ChiswickFlo]

Lots of private/independent schools will be in this position this year

[pkim123]

@ChiswickFlo

Lots of private/independent schools will be in this position this year

I completely agree with you. Unfortunately, NLCS distinguished itself far beyond the other schools and, therefore, will again standout as results return back to trend. Again, they really didn't help themselves.

[ChiswickFlo]

Yep.
Sooooo shortsighted.
Baffling, really.

[WayDownInTheHole]

@changedforthis1

Name changed for this as i don't normally make it clear where my children/step children go to school...

Lots of Whatsapp conversations, as you can imagine. Thinking is that it's related to the overinflated A level results from last year that made the Sunday Times. School mounted a spirited defence at the time but even parents were taken aback. By now school will have a good idea from internal exams how this year are likely to do, and if it looks like it will be a drop down, more questions will be asked and the suspicion is that the answers won't be good.

Odd, as many Heads (not just independent, but more so perhaps) will be in this boat.

[pkim123]

@WayDownInTheHole

Odd, as many Heads (not just independent, but more so perhaps) will be in this boat.

Many Heads will be in the same boat, as several schools added 30-35% percentage points to their A grades. However, NLCS went far further adding over 56% points to their A grades. All schools were wrong for doing this, but NLCS just made a complete mockery of the situation. I feel for the students and parents as this really puts the school in a bad light.

[TizerorFizz]

It’s an interesting concept that parents care about “undeserved” grades. Mostly on MN people rejoice about high grades. It’s still unlikely their pupils are not top performers though.

[Xenia]

33% A* 2019 which is typical and very good of NLCS ....and then to go to 90% on teacher assessed grades is ridiculous. What did they think they were doing? My daughter went there under the previous head and it was always one of the top schools in the country for A level grades and is very very selective but even so this is unbelievable. I was against dropping exams nationally in 2020 and 2021. I would rather more people had risked covid.

[Bobbybobbins]

Wow I hadn't realised the rise was so high - that table is very enlightening. Surely a big drop for many schools this year but agree that NLCS is right up there!!

[pkim123]

@TizerorFizz

It’s an interesting concept that parents care about “undeserved” grades. Mostly on MN people rejoice about high grades. It’s still unlikely their pupils are not top performers though.

Agreed. And it seems like many NLCS graduates can be successful on TikTok:
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tiktok-queen-tinx-educated-in-north-london-made-in-la-c93wt67bc

[bendmeoverbackwards]

33% A* grades seems quite low to me considering these are very clever girls.

[pkim123]

@bendmeoverbackwards

33% A* grades seems quite low to me considering these are very clever girls.

33% for A*'s is very good if you compare it across schools in 2019.

[Quadrilingual]

Wow I am shocked to read this. As a secondary teacher I find it unbelievable. Bumping to follow!

[bendmeoverbackwards]

@pkim123

33% for A*'s is very good if you compare it across schools in 2019.

I disagree. This is one of the top schools in the country full of super clever girls who should all be capable of top grades.

[pkim123]

@bendmeoverbackwards

I disagree. This is one of the top schools in the country full of super clever girls who should all be capable of top grades.

Okay, you disagree. What percentage of grades should be A* in a normal year where students take tests?

[pkim123]

@bendmeoverbackwards

I disagree. This is one of the top schools in the country full of super clever girls who should all be capable of top grades.

Here's the data for A* grades at all top schools, just the facts:

www.londonpreprep.com/2019/08/a-level-results-2019/

[Cumbercat]

@ChiswickFlo

Lots of private/independent schools will be in this position this year

Don’t make the mistake of believing the narrative that this is a private school only issue. You might want to look at the statement of the HMC General Secretary given in response to the Sunday Times article. He sets out that the increase in A/A* at A level in 2021 was 16.9% in the independent sector but 21.4% in the state sector.

[bendmeoverbackwards]

@pkim123

Okay, you disagree. What percentage of grades should be A* in a normal year where students take tests?

At NLCS I would expect that percentage to be very high, maybe around 60-70%. I am not talking about schools in general.

[pkim123]

@bendmeoverbackwards

At NLCS I would expect that percentage to be very high, maybe around 60-70%. I am not talking about schools in general.

In 2019, the highest percentage of any school in London was less than 59%. But you think the NLCS students can get 60-70% A grades? Have you looked at the actual data? No school in London is getting 60-70% A. None. Zero.

[bendmeoverbackwards]

At Henrietta Barnett (similar to NLCS in terms of the girls) 73% got A or A at A level in 2019. No data for the split between As and As though.

[pkim123]

@bendmeoverbackwards

At Henrietta Barnett (similar to NLCS in terms of the girls) 73% got A or A at A level in 2019. No data for the split between As and As though.

Please click on this link, it will give you the "A*" and "A" split. NLCS is #16 in London
www.londonpreprep.com/2019/08/a-level-results-2019/

[pkim123]

@bendmeoverbackwards

At Henrietta Barnett (similar to NLCS in terms of the girls) 73% got A or A at A level in 2019. No data for the split between As and As though.

And in case anyone doesn't want to click on the link here's the page, just the "A*" grades.

[pkim123]

Anyway, getting back to the original post, I'm hearing that the head's departure had to do with more than simply the ridiculously inflated A-level results.

[DorotheaDiamond]

As an ONL I’m dying to know what’s going on!

for those hung up on % A+ do remember it does depend on how many a levels are taken. Is a school where all pupils take 3 and get 3a+ (100%) better than one where they all do 4 and get 3a+ and an A (75%)?

(sorry using + to avoid formatting issues)