Talk:Wey Valley Academy

Comment
The performance of schools in england is subject to monitoring by several different means or measures. These have a tendency to change year on year depending on Government policies and priorities.

Key current measures are:

- The percentage of students who attain 5 or more GCSE or equivalent qualifications at grades A*-C - The percentage of students who attain 5 or more GCSE or equivalent qualifications at grades A*-C INCLUDING English and maths - The percentage of students who attain 5 or more GCSE or equivalent qualifications at grades A*-G

Another measure being used is the CVA or contextual value added measure. Each grade a student gains carries points (A*=58, A=52, B=46, C=40, D=34, E=28, F=22, G=16) These are added together for the students best 8 subjects to give a 'capped' point score. From 2009 this score also included the english and maths score as a "bonus" to ensure that these subjects are included in performance monitoring.

In 2008, schools who were attaining below a figure of 30% of students attaining 5A*-C inc English and maths were published as a list of target schools in a Government project called the National Challenge - a development and progression from London Challenge and partner project to City Challenge. The press labelled this as a list of failing schools - but it is accepted that the Government themselves did not use this term at any stage In many cases the schools identified are rated as good or better by OFSTED - the UK schools inspection authority. They also - in many cases - serve extremely deprived communities and are seen to add very good value to their students outcomes.

In this article about one such school I have endeavoured to maintain a factual basis without bias and opinion. Some editors are using opinion and POV to describe things as fact. They are also using exclusion of information and misdirection to try to demonstrate negative impact when the opposite is supported in fact. Comparing two different performance measures (see above) is a good example.

For wikipedia to have real value it is right that information is published which is true, unbiased and verifiable by citation. Uncomfortable truths should be presented as well as the others, but in a way which isn't distorted by emotive, personal opinion - but offers purely fact. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Paulsnorman (talk • contribs) 20:53, 28 January 2010 (UTC)
 * It should be noted that the above editor is Deputy Headmaster at the school, and thus has a COI. I have counseled him on how to proceed from here. -- Orange Mike  &#x007C;   Talk  14:36, 29 January 2010 (UTC)

Factual changes to content requested
As I am the Deputy Headteacher for this school I have a 'conflict of interest'. I have been advised that I should publish factual information with references and then request that a neutral editor change the page. I will do this an element at a time.

The current version states: "The school's overall GCSE results have steadily declined since 2003 when the results stood at 40% achieving at least 5 A*-C grades or equivalent.[1] However more recently there has been a small increase to 44% 5A*-C including English and maths"

This is inaccurate on two counts. The school results (Level 2 threshold or more commonly known as 5 A*-C) have not steadily declined - the fairest description if starting in 2003 would be to say they have been variable but have been improving since 2005

2003  46% 2004   49% 2005   47% 2006   48% 2007   49% 2008   50% 2009   63%

A second measure was introduced in 2006 which saw school performance also measured against 5 A*-C grades including English and maths. The achievement tables for 2009 show the trend since this started with the school dropping below 30% in 2007 and thus being identified as National Challenge. It has moved back above that threshold in 2008 and continued further in 2009 with 44% Paulsnorman (talk) 19:02, 29 January 2010 (UTC)
 * ✅ Your edits have been restored.   S warm  ( Talk ) 06:10, 31 January 2010 (UTC)

Second revision requested
As I have a COI - I am requesting a neutral consideration of the following:

The current version states It is one of two Dorset schools to be on the Government's Failing Schools list having only 27% of students achieving 5A* to C passes in 2007

There is no "Government Failing Schools" list. There is The National Challenge - for which there are many possible references. The fairest description here would be that the school was identified as part of the National Challenge in 2007 as the 5 A*-C grades including english and maths measure fell below the threshold of 30%. The media and press labelled this as a failing school list although the Secretary of State and Government have never used that term in that context.

Paulsnorman (talk) 19:43, 29 January 2010 (UTC)


 * ✅ Your edits have been restored.   S warm  ( Talk ) 06:13, 31 January 2010 (UTC)