Choosing school - ideal % of grades A* and A at GCSE?

[Cortina]

Just musing and looking at possible schools going forward.

What % of grades A* and A would you look for ideally at GCSE?

I know that there are many other ways of judging schools and that statistics can be skewed, plus it also depends on subjects taken & numbers of pupils taking exams. But if you were just looking at this first in isolation as an academic yardstick.

They are 60% at A/A, 87.8% A/A, 51% A*/A.

Two are selective schools, the school with 51% A*/A is non selective.

Interested what % would ring alarm bells/worry you possibly?

It seems to me if you love the school and it fits the bill for your child you'd want to put your child in the school that had the best academic track record?

It's a few years yet for us - secondary school - but I am surprised by how much the numbers/pass rates etc vary.

Thanks.

i ( broadly) agree quattrocento]

the culture of course work - modules - resits etc etc just makes it easier and easier to get As and A*

Bottom sets in a comprehensive can be very difficult places to be, last year in year 8 we had one very difficult class and I think that prompted it. There was also a feeling that there is always an element of mixed ability teaching even within setting. At GCSE we also teach mixed ability if the option is not large enough for setting and we manage to do this successfully, I think people thought that if we could do it there why not at KS3.

I think it was a big mistake and made my opinion very well known. If classes are difficult you address that situation.

In year 7 and 9 we have a grammar stream, a lower set and then mixed in the middle.

I agree on resits and modules.

Coursework is on its way out.

woohoo i say Morosky!