NEW ways of measuring the GCSE achievements has seen some schools dropping dramatically in league tables, but have launched one Poole secondary into the top 100 most improved schools.

On the same day as local education authority GCSE pass rates for 2005 were published, it was revealed that the new measuring yardstick being introduced in 2007 will make a radical difference to the overall scores of some schools.

In the past, league tables reflected a school's exam success based on the percentage of pupils gaining five GCSEs at grades A* to C in any subject. But the government is changing this so that two of the five GCSE passes must include English and maths.

We have recalculated the league tables, above right, so parents can compare schools on the old and new benchmarks.

The LEA figures for GCSEs this summer show that nationally the average performance on the new measure is 44.1 per cent.

On the old measures it was up two percentage points this year to 55.7 per cent - the biggest rise for a decade.

The 2005 results for each school will not be published until January.

But the 2004 figures show that while most schools had improved their GCSE results in recent years, performance in English and maths has worsened in one in six.

Ashdown Technology College in Poole, however, is one school benefiting from the new measure because under the English and maths yardstick it is the 15th most improved secondary across the whole of the country, taking into account results over the last few years.

Head teacher Ashley Pellegrini said: "We are doing the best we have ever done and to be honest we're not shocked because we have made some changes.

"We know we are improving and it's nice that this is being recognised.

"We are now concentrating on getting our results up even higher."

Under the new yardstick the overall performance indicator of local LEAs has taken a tumble by about 10 per cent, but local education bosses say they aren't duly worried.

Carolyn Godfrey, head of inclusion and achievement in Bournemouth, said: "The majority of young people achieving five A* to C include English and maths.

"We are continuing to work to ensure that all young people achieve this. We seek this as it is the gateway to successful employment."

Jane Portman, chief adviser at Poole LEA, said: "Poole has been monitoring the percentage of pupils that achieve five or more A*-C grades in all subjects for several years.

"English and maths are compulsory subjects at Key Stage 4. Whatever measure is used, Poole schools continue to improve. The first release of 2005 GCSE results by the government's Department for Education and Skills shows that together, Poole schools are ninth best in the country.

"That is a fantastic achievement of which the LEA and our schools are justly proud.

"On the government's new measure, including maths and English, Ashdown Technology College has been recognised as the 15th most improved school in the

country - a great achievement."

Director of education in Dorset David Goddard said: "I do agree that if we are going to have some sort of measure that it makes sense to include English and maths.

"But it is very dangerous just to use league tables to assess a school. Exam results are only part of a child's education and show only a slice of the picture.

"I assume that the benchmark is being changed for league table reasons.

"It is human nature to compare between schools."

First published: October 24