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Independent school pupils 'should be achieving more at GCSE level'

Posted on 26th August 2009

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Students at state and independent schools should be achieving better GCSE grades, it has been claimed.

Figures published by the Conservative Party show that less than a quarter of 16-year-olds attain five GCSE passes in core academic subjects such as English, maths, science and a language.

Nick Seaton, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said it is a "national disgrace" that exam results are not higher.

Students need to study "sensible" subjects at GCSE level, he noted, in order to take more "respected" A-levels.

"It is a very bad situation. I think a lot of it is to do with schools being more concerned about their position in the league tables rather than the individual pupil's future prospects," Mr Seaton added.

According to the Department for Children, Schools and Families, the number of 16 and 17-year-olds not in education, training or employment has fallen for the third consecutive year.