Abbey Wood School has been branded one of the country's worst schools for truancy, with pupils missing six times as many days as the national average.

The secondary school, in Eynsham Drive, which may be turned into a city academy following public consultation, has the seventeenth highest truancy rate.

But there was some good news from new value-added performance tables which showed Abbey Wood pupils' academic achievement between age 14 and GCSEs, was above the national average.

The figures were released last Thursday as part of the Government's secondary school performance tables which include Key Stage 3 and GCSE results.

Ranking schools on the percentage of pupils gaining five A* C grades Blackheath High School and Colfe's school were tied at 92 per cent with St Thomas More in third place with 67 per cent.

For the first year the tables provide information on how schools add value to pupil's progress relative to their different starting points, between Key Stage 3 tests at 14 and GCSE two years later.

Looking at the new added value indicator, Thomas Tallis Secondary, in Kidbrooke Park Road, Kidbrooke, came out on top with a points score of 102.7.

Abbey Wood School gained an above average 101.6 points on added value, alongside St Paul's School and Eltham Green while Eltham Hill Technology College for Girls, in Eltham Hill, scored 102.4

A council spokesman said: "Ofsted recognise Abbey Wood is doing everything it can to combat truancy and improve attendance."

To access the tables, follow the link on this story at www.newsshopper.co.uk

January 28, 2003 14:30