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Strong showing by Spalding secondary schools in latest 'Progress 8' results put town at the forefront of Lincolnshire's 11-16 educational provision




Spalding can make a strong claim for being a centre of secondary education excellence in Lincolnshire, according to the latest government figures.

All three secondary schools in the town, Spalding Academy, Grammar and High Schools, are among the top 15 schools in the county for progress between the ages of 11 and 16.

The provisional Progress 8 measure, released by the Department for Education on Thursday to track a student's educational achievement from Year 6 to Year 11, shows Spalding High School to have improved from ninth in 2017 to third in Lincolnshire this year.

Spalding Grammar School GCSE students Tom Barlow, Finn Murdoch, Nathan Culley, and Dominic Nalivaiko. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-230818-009TW
Spalding Grammar School GCSE students Tom Barlow, Finn Murdoch, Nathan Culley, and Dominic Nalivaiko. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-230818-009TW

The provisional Progress 8 measure, released by the Department for Education on Thursday to track a student's educational achievement from Year 6 to Year 11, shows Spalding High School to have improved from ninth in 2017 to third in Lincolnshire this year.

Spalding Grammar School has climbed 12 places, from 22nd in 2017 to tenth this year.

Meanwhile, Spalding Academy has jumped to 15th place, up from 25th, providing another boost for the school named in July as the Lincolnshire Free Press and Spalding Guardian Secondary School of the Year.

Laurence Reilly, executive head teacher, said: "I am delighted that Spalding Academy has achieved a positive ‘Progress 8’ score, as published in the Department for Education’s ‘league tables’.

"Progress 8 measures the overall progress of all Year 11 students at the school, counting their best eight subjects.

"Given the journey that the school has been on recently, it is pleasing that Spalding Academy has the second highest score for any mixed secondary modern school in Lincolnshire, with our other school - Bourne Academy - having the highest.

Twins Emily and Marie Davy at Spalding Academy on GCSE results day in August. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-230818-020TW
Twins Emily and Marie Davy at Spalding Academy on GCSE results day in August. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-230818-020TW

"Whilst one year’s data alone does not define a school, I am delighted that the South Lincolnshire Academies Trust’s two secondary schools have done so well this year, given the additional challenge of the new, harder GCSEs graded 9 to 1, instead of A* to G.

"Spalding Academy is now delivering on our aim of providing a quality, non-selective secondary school option for parents and young people in Spalding."

Michele Anderson, headmistress at Spalding High School, said: "Everyone at the school is absolutely thrilled with the provisional Progress 8 data published by the Department for Education this month.

"In 2018, 96.5 per cent of our GCSE students achieved a Grade 4 or above in English and Maths, with 46 per cent of all grades being 7 to 9.

"This is a testament to the hard work of our students, along with the commitment and support of parents and staff."

Twins Jessica and Grace Wood collect their GCSE results at Spalding High School. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-230818-033TW
Twins Jessica and Grace Wood collect their GCSE results at Spalding High School. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-230818-033TW

Steven Wilkinson, headmaster at Spalding Grammar School, said: "As a result of the school’s drive in raising expectations, we had anticipated that measures of progress would be strong.

"When the school's GCSE results were published in August, the indications were that the hard work of students and staff had paid off and that our Progress 8 measure was going to be positive, putting us in the 'Above Average' category.

South Holland and the Deepings MP, John Hayes.
South Holland and the Deepings MP, John Hayes.

"When the school's GCSE results were published in August, the indications were that the hard work of students and staff had paid off and that our Progress 8 measure was going to be positive, putting us in the 'Above Average' category.

"Therefore, we are delighted that the Government’s provisional data, confirms that belief and, in fact, we anticipate a further increase when the validated data is published later in the year.

"The school’s Progress 8 score shows that, on average, students here made a quarter of a grade more progress in every subject than students of similar ability did nationally.

"Add to this the fact that boys underperformed nationally, it means that our students outperformed their equals in other schools by almost half a grade in each subject.

"Comparison shows us that we are placed in the top 18 per cent of boys’ schools nationally, as well as in the top ten schools in Lincolnshire.

Thomas McManamon-Cookson at Spalding Grammar School. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-230818-010TW
Thomas McManamon-Cookson at Spalding Grammar School. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-230818-010TW

"Comparison shows us that we are placed in the top 18 per cent of boys’ schools nationally, as well as in the top ten schools in Lincolnshire.

"These results are testament to the hard work of last year’s Year 11, along with all of the staff, and I am hugely grateful for their efforts."

Of the other secondary schools in South Holland, University Academy Holbeach and Peele Community College, Long Sutton, were both within the top 40.

Meanwhile, Thomas Cowley High School in Donington was 46th out of a total of 88 secondary schools in the county.

The performance of secondary schools in Spalding, Spalding Academy in particular, was praised by South Holland and the Deepings MP, John Hayes.

South Holland and the Deepings MP, John Hayes.
South Holland and the Deepings MP, John Hayes.

He said: "Both Spalding Grammar and High Schools have a long-established record of excellence and these results show this is continuing.

"But it is really pleasing to see the performance of Spalding Academy as I have been a keen supporter of the school for a very long time.

Spalding Academy GCSE students Marie and Emily Davy, James Burley and Taylor Davies. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-230818-019TW
Spalding Academy GCSE students Marie and Emily Davy, James Burley and Taylor Davies. Photo by Tim Wilson. SG-230818-019TW

"These results are a great tribute to the leaderships, as well as the whole school community of governors, parents and, most of all, the students who have achieved this strong showing.

"Its leadership team has confirmed what we all knew that a non-selective school can do really well when real change happens."



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