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Many schools 'falling short' of exam benchmark

Posted on 23rd September 2009

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A number of the country's secondary schools have failed to meet the government's benchmark for exam standards last summer, it has emerged.

There are now 270 schools falling below the threshold of 30 per cent of pupils needing to achieve five GCSEs, those considering private schools may be interested to hear.

Schools secretary Ed Balls commented: "There were some schools which had a view of the world that low expectations were accepted.

"I've always said that non-selective schools in selective areas face extra challenges."

In a bid to improve standards, the government is to send expert advisers into some local authorities, including Leeds, Kent and Suffolk.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families announced earlier this year that there has been a 20.8 per cent rise in A-level entries since 2002.

Maths and further maths saw the highest proportion of A-grade candidates, while physics A-level saw an above average 4.8 per cent rise to 29,436 entries from 28,096 last year. ADNFCR-921-ID-19375347-ADNFCR