The League Tables published last week again demonstrated the strong academic performance of students at Norton Hill School in 2012, a school spokesman comments. 31% of students achieved good passes in the English Baccalaureate set of subjects (which includes: English, Maths, Science, a Foreign Language and either History or Geography). The national average is just over 15% with Norton Hill more than doubling that of other schools locally in this new top measure of school performance. This change of focus by the Government is welcomed by Alun Williams, Headteacher at Norton Hill. He said in a recent interview: "For too long, schools have avoided setting a challenging Key Stage 4 curriculum for children based around the best subjects. The curriculum at Norton Hill is both academic and challenging and through very good teaching and hard work from students, Norton Hill remains one of the top performing schools in B&NES.
"In the future, the Government plans to make the English Baccalaureate a qualification in its own right, so that employers and universities know that this measure of pupil performance is a true reflection of achievement.
"Too often, schools have provided a far less rigorous curriculum in order to boost their league table position.
"The latest revision of league table measures has seen a reduction in the importance of 'equivalent' qualifications.
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"Norton Hill is again recognised as the top performing school locally."
Alun Williams continued to say: "I was delighted with the results achieved by students taking the English Baccalaureate and the outcomes achieved by Sixth Form students last year.
"Our Sixth Form has an excellent track record of top results in academic subjects which we know are more difficult than some other courses which are run at other schools.
"The proven track record of our Sixth Form is clear when examining the destinations of Year 12 and 13. Every student last year who left the Sixth Form in August gained a place at university or went into employment with training, a stunning achievement."