University Academy Holbeach sixth-form emerges as second best in Lincolnshire, according to Department for Education figures
The all-round educational success of sixth-formers at University Academy Holbeach (UAH) has led to it emerging as the most progressive school in south-east Lincolnshire.
Figures from the Department for Education (DfE) released this month put UAH second for the progress made by students between Year 10 and 13, or from GCSEs to post-16 qualifications, in 2017.
The DfE figures showed the average A-Level grade for UAH students last year was C-, putting the school second behind only Lincoln University Technical College.
Spalding Grammar School was sixth, according to the DfE’s progress from Years 10 to 13 scores for Lincolnshire, with Bourne Grammar School seventh, The Deepings School tenth, Bourne Academy 11th and Spalding High School 18th out of 64 schools and colleges in Lincolnshire.
UAH principal Steve Baragwanath said: “I’m very pleased with the results because our sixth form has been very successful and shown remarkable growth over the past year.
“I’m delighted for the youngsters because so many of them have been able to go to university.
“But the DfE tables don’t capture all the success because they are heavily focused on A-Levels which form only a proportion of what we do.”
UAH A-Level students achieved a 100 per cent pass rate, two per cent up on 2017, with 77 per cent of grades at A* to C, also two per cent better than last year.
There was also 100 per cent pass rate for BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council) courses, the same as last year.
Mr Baragwanath said: “Our average grade at A-Level has increased in 2018 to C+.
"But we do a lot of technical and vocational qualifications as well, including BTEC.
University Academy Holbeach A-Level students Alex Mayer, Martin Baker, Oliver Rawlins and James Cudlipp. Photo by Michael Fysh. SG-1608018-071MF
"Our average BTEC grade has been maintained at Distinction, while our progress in technical qualifications for subjects like engineering and electrical engineering is 100 per cent.
"Also, the destination data for our youngsters is very high and GCSE grades show excellent progress as well.
"There's a little more stability in post-16 qualifications than in Year 11qualifications and it's important that our A-Level success is recognised.
"But we have a 98-99 per cent rate on BTEC courses as well so it's about making sure our students are on the right courses."
A Department for Education spokesman said: "Our 16-18 performance tables fully reflect the performance of approved vocational qualifications, including approved BTECs and City and Guilds qualifications.
"We only count reformed and approved qualifications in our performance tables to ensure students have achieved a high-quality qualification that will better prepare them for work or further study.
"Further information about approved BTECs and City and Guilds qualifications are either reported in the ‘Applied General’ or the ‘Tech level’ categories in our 16 to 18 performance tables which you can see here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-and-college-performance-tables-in-england-2016-to-2017
