To report the Religious Education examination results for pupils in Herefordshire.

SACRE considered the Religious Education examination results for pupils in Herefordshire.

In response to the Religious Studies 2005-2007 statistics set out at appendix 1 in the agenda the Primary School Improvement Manager presented the following comments:

1.      Over the last 3 years there had been a significant shift in exam entry patterns with schools moving away from short course GCSE entry to full course GCSE entry.

2.      The number of entries for the full GCSE course continued to rise significantly.  There were 631 candidates in 2007 compared to 413 in 2006 and 365 in 2005.  In 2007, two schools entered almost all their students for the full course rather than the short course exam.

3.      The number of entries for the short GCSE course continued to drop.  There were 677 candidates in 2007, compared to 855 in 2006 and 1002 in 2005.

4.      There are three schools that enter relatively few candidates for a GCSE examination.

5.      The percentage of students gaining grades in A* - C in the full course GCSE exam in 2007 was 60%, a significant drop from 79% in 2006 and 2005, and significantly below the national % (69%) for the first time.

6.      The percentage of students gaining Grades A* - C on the short course GCSE exam in 2007 dropped to 44% from the 51% in 2006 and in line with the 44% in 2005.  Standards attained on the short course are below the national average (52%).

7.      The percentage of students gaining grades A* - G in the full course GCSE exam in 2007 was 97% a dip from the 100% of 2006 and 2005.

8.      The percentage of students gaining grades A* - G in the short course GCSE exam has risen slightly to 95% in 2007 from 94% in 2006 and 93% in 2005. 

9.      In 2007 the results were variable across Herefordshire schools.  Eight schools had a percentage A* - C pass rates significantly above the national average; three schools had a significant drop in the percentage A* - C pass rate and also in their percentage A* - G pass rate.  In one of the three schools the results in Religious Studies were significantly below other subjects.

10.  In two of the three schools where the percentage A* - C pass and the percentage A* - G pass for the full course GCSE was below average and appeared to have dropped significantly, the change in entry numbers from short to full GCSE exam was also significant.  Both schools switched from entering the majority of their students to the full GCSE course exam for the first time.  The difference in number was 263 additional candidates from the previous year (2006).

11.  One of the three schools had a large entry for the short course and the percentage of A* - C passes dropped significantly in 2007.

In relation to (9) above SACRE noted that while 8 high Schools had performed above average unfortunately 3 had performed significantly below the average and had therefore reduced the overall Herefordshire average.  The Children’s Services Directorate were already working with 2 of the schools concerned to raise their attainment levels. However, this work only related to general attainment and not specifically to RE.

SACRE congratulated the Hereford Sixth Form, and particularly John Kyrle High School, on their A Level (A2 and AS levels) attainment.  However, SACRE questioned what course provision was offered at other 6th form settings in view of the curriculum requirement for accredited courses to be offered.

It was noted that for the first time in a number of years Whitecross High School would be offering a GCSE course in Religious Studies and therefore course provision was rapidly being put in place.

The Chairman cautioned regarding the interpretation of statistics preferring to consider any trends covering a number of years.

RESOLVED: That the examination results in Religious Studies for 2007 be noted and the Chairman write to John Kyrle High School to congratulate them on their A Level Religious Studies attainment results.