The latest results table, published last week, shows Bexley's schools are well up to national standards. LINDA PIPER discovers, with the new value added' criterion, some pupils are doing better than ever ...

THE table of results for last summer's GCSE exams has been published, including the new value added points score.

The value added element, used for the first time this year, shows how well schools did at improving their pupils' expected performance between the age of 11 and 14 and between 14 and 16.

The actual exam results show Bexley's four grammar schools got the highest numbers of pupils with at least five A* to C grades, as expected. But when the value added criteria kick in, it is the non-selective schools whose pupils have improved their prospects the most.

St Catherine's RC Comprehensive Girls School, in Bexleyheath, came top of the non-selective schools for exam results, with 66 per cent of girls achieving at least five GCSEs at the top grades.

It was also the second best school in the borough for getting the best from its pupils.

Top in the value added stakes was Blackfen School for Girls, which also saw 61 per cent of girls gain five A*s to C grades.

Hurstmere Boys' School, in Sidcup, and Trinity C of E School, in Belvedere, featured in this year's list of most improved schools, as did Kemnal Technology College, in Bromley, which takes many Sidcup boys.

Townley and Bexley grammar schools were among the top schools in the country, each achieving 100 per cent for five A* to C grades.

Bexley's best value added' schools were Blackfen Girls, St Catherine's, Trinity School and Westwood Technology College, Welling.

All Bexley schools came out on target, or just above, for value added points.

Hurstmere Boys' School's results rose dramatically this year with a 16 per cent increase in the top grades. One boy, Brett Davey scored one A* and five As, and 23 boys achieved nine higher-grade passes.

Headteacher Ian Sharp said: "These outstanding results are well above our targets for last year and reflect the hard work of the boys, parental support and the professional commitment of all the staff."

At St Catherine's, star pupil Carly Munday won the headteacher's prize for her nine A*s and one A. Headteacher Susan Powell said Carly was a terrific role model for younger girls.

She and other high fliers Tracey Duodu and Heather Norris attributed their success to the help they were given by teachers.

One Bexley school is missing from the Education and Skills Department's tables Thamesmead Community College, which closed last summer.

Six per cent of its pupils achieved five A* to C grades; 79 per cent got five A* to G grades and 90 per cent of pupils got at least one GCSE.

GIRLS' COMP IS ONE OF BEST

ST CATHERINE'S RC Comprehensive Girls School, in Bexleyheath, was also celebrating a glowing Ofsted report this week. Its link inspector at Bexley's education department described the report as "swimming in As and A*s". Headteacher Susan Powell said the school was proving itself to be among the best in the borough, holding its own against the grammar schools. She attributed the school's growing reputation to a dedicated staff and to her hard working pupils. She said: "When you get an atmosphere going in a particular year group, where the students are enthusiastic about learning, there's no stopping them." She said the staff worked hard to make lessons at the school interesting and stimulating. Miss Powell added, being a religious school helped because it viewed all children as equally important, no matter what their abilities, and enjoyed shared principles about how life should be led. Miss Powell added: "We are very proud of being a Catholic and a comprehensive school."

January 28, 2003 11:30