Highest Pass Rates Ever For Kingston

Kingston

1.  

   Kingston College

 

Grammar School has recently reported that 99% of it's GCSE and 98% of

it’s A level passes are at grades A*-C. Down the road it's more diverse

neighbour Kingston College has reported a 93% A level pass rate with

100% in some subjects. With such high pass rates in both Kingston

institutions is it time to look at the exams or how they achieve these

pass rates?

Recently

the charity Barnardos called for “fair banding” to reduce social

segregation in schools. Stating that fewer pupils from poorer homes are

able to get into good schools due to their parents not being able to

navigate the admissions criteria.

It's

well known that Kingston Grammar School like Tiffin School and Tiffin

Girls School are selective,  taking in the "brightest" students from

inside Kingston and the surrounding boroughs. The schools use exams as

the selection criteria which the majority of students now get tutored

for. This means those with parents without the means to pay for this

tutoring, or parents who don't think their child should study so hard

don't stand a chance of getting into the schools. Also with the shortage

of secondary school places in the borough and how the school admission

process works in London, many secondary school pupils who live in

Kingston are educated outside the borough or privately.

On

the other hand Kingston College, while taking in a diverse mix of

students, has an entry criteria that is less strict but still selective.

As a former pupil I was aware of the methods they used to ensure they

got the high pass rates they achieved years ago. The same methods are

now used in lots of secondary schools around London according to media

reports and personal stories told to me by family and  friends who

include teachers.

However

this doesn't detract from the fact that exam pass rates at both GCSE

and A level are reported as being the highest ever. This clearly

suggests  pupils are being taught how to pass the exams. To avoid this

some colleges and independent schools, like Richmond Upon Thames College

and Marymount International School,  make all or some of their

students study for the more challenging International Baccalaureate.

Indicating that they like others don't think GCSEs and A levels are fit

for the purposes they are intended for.