Penryn celebrates record SATs results (From Falmouth Packet)

Penryn celebrates record SATs results

8:50am Monday 8th October 2012 in News By Greg Fountain, Reporter/Photographer

Penryn Junior School have posted their best ever SATs results this year, after a record-breaking performance by the pupils that left this summer.

SATs, which are also known as National Curriculum assessments, are completed by 11 year olds at the end of year six to provide a record of achievement.

Children are expected to gain a “level four” or above in these tests and last year, nationally, 81 per cent did so in English and 80 per cent in maths.

At Penryn, they are outperforming that average with 83 per cent of children achieving the required level in English and 82 per cent in maths.

This is a huge improvement over last year, when the figures were 63 per cent for English and 75 per cent for maths.

Headteacher Robin Cowen said this “record year” was down to a combination of “exceptional” teaching and pupil effort.

He said: “When I first came here, in my first year of headship [1996], the results of children getting level four or above were literally half what it is now.

“The teaching is exceptional but on top of that there is the tracking of pupil progress – so as soon as a child is not making expected progress, we jump in and put additional measures in place.

“We know exactly where a child is and where they need to be - most children are making good progress but if they are not we jump in. That’s the idea.”

The school’s success comes while they are “on the cusp of joining with the infants to become one school” Mr Cowen said.

All that is needed is the “ministerial sign-off” and one further consultation with parents before “we will really see lift off,” he said.

“It’s very exciting for us. It will involve a complete rebranding of the school and on an agreed date we will open as one school with a whole new ethos, school uniform and everything.

“And we know the new school will go from strength to strength. We will be a lot more integrated and that’s what makes the difference.

“I’m absolutely certain we have found the right approach. We are partnering up with the Cornwall Academy Trust and there will be an opportunity through the trust for the most able children to push on past level 5 in their SATs, which is usually the ceiling.

“We couldn’t do it on our own but by collaborating with other schools, we can.”

Mr Cowen also pointed to the “individual success stories” to illustrate the school’s overall achievement in this year’s SATs.

The top boy and girl in maths were Floyd Ratcliffe, who scored 98 per cent, and Chelsea Mitchell, with a 97 per cent score.

In English, Gwen Ryan came top for the girls with a score of 96 per cent.

Mr Cowen said: “It’s worth pointing out that in maths things are either right or wrong, but to get 96 per cent in English, when people are making a judgement about your writing, is just exceptional.”

Ethan McFadzean was top boy with 98 per cent, which Mr Cowen called “phenomenal.”

He added: “Our most able pupils are achieving some of the top marks, which will put them in the top half a per cent nationally.”