Sixth-form brain drain from East Riding to Hull blamed for county's slide down table
A BRAIN-drain of East Riding students to Hull is partly to blame for the county's disappointing performance in A-level league tables, according to education officials.
The East Riding has dropped 14 places to 70th out of 149 authorities nationally.
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Kerry Foster, 17, and Gemma Newman, 18, students at Woldgate College, which is ranked second in the A-level performance table.
It is also 38 places behind Hull in the A-level table.
But Alison Michalska, East Riding director of children, family and adult services, insists parents should not be alarmed.
She said: "We have not got the specialist sixth form colleges that they have in Hull.
"I think they attract some of the most able young people, a lot of our young people choose to be educated outside the East Riding for post-16.
"For Beverley children it's really easy to access Wyke or Wilberforce, particularly Wyke with its fabulous new buildings.
"It quite rightly is attracting kids who are very able youngsters who are planning to go to university, who think 'I will go to a college where I am far more adult'. "
Mrs Michalska said the sixth form colleges prepare students for independent learning, which is good preparation for university.
She said: "It's not good for my league tables but what matters to me is every child is doing well."
By the same token, Hull pupils have contributed to the East Riding's success in the GCSE performance table, in which the county has moved up 11 places to 42.
She said: "Hull contributes to our success at under-16 because about 1,200 Hull children attend East Riding secondary schools."
The East Riding's average points score per A-level candidate has gone down, from 721.2 to 718.2, according to Government data released this week.
But the average points score per exam entry has gone up, suggesting the total of exams taken has gone down.
The top performing East Riding secondary at A-level is Woldgate College, Pocklington, which is ranked second in the GCSE table.
See today's Mail for more details on how schools and colleges in Hull and the East Riding have done at A-level.
MORE ON THIS STORY: Hull's high-performing sixth-formers push city further up league table
15 Comments
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by Janet, Hull
Saturday, January 15 2011, 4:17PM
“Yes, Malcolm - but the boundary of the City of York is much much wider than that of Hull - you pass the city mark just before the end of the A1079 roundabout at Grimston bar - a good few miles outside of the city not just 3-4 like in Hull.
Also, well said Ms Michalska, hit the nail right on the head - the children from Hull are artificially rising the results in the ER and then coming back into Hull for A levels and proving that Hull is good at something.”
by Malcolm, Sutton
Friday, January 14 2011, 8:18PM
“Lo and behold I think people are beginning to get the message.
The people of York were happy to be taken into the City of York in the boundary review of 1996 - the people of Hull weren't.
When the boundaries are finally adjusted to reflect the true modern day City of Hull we will be a mid table non entity.
I for one will rejoice at that FFS.”
by MJ, E.Yorks
Friday, January 14 2011, 5:51PM
“This is a more balanced stat than we are used to seeing as it captures kids in Hull and in the Hull area (as Derek points out).
I believe I'm right in saying that Hull is one of only a few places in the country where the inner city and the suburbs are covered by two different councils. That¿s why Hull is so often near the bottom of league tables.
So Hull and its surrounding area is actually in the top half of a league table for once, what a refreshing change, great to see!”
by Derek, Anlaby
Friday, January 14 2011, 4:39PM
“A very refreshing attitude from Ms Michalska. League tables are not at the forefront of her thinking, rather the education of our youngsters.
This example serves to highlight the absurdity of two things:
1 - League Tables in education
2 - The "boundary" between Hull and the East Riding.
The latter has contributed to the false impression of Hull being a more deprived city than others and populated by idiots.
These league tables are one example and shocking publicity such as Hull falling as the worst place to live in Britain on that pathetic Channel 4 programme a couple of years ago is another.
There is no dividing line between Hull and Hessle, Anlaby, Cottingham and Willerby. They are all part of the city's urban reach however an arbitrary line was drawn down the middle of a couple of streets and lo and behold, I don't live in Hull.
Annoying really as I would benefit from lower council tax but much, much better service in terms of refuse collection and other areas.
My children would also benefit from better teaching standards and greater pupil spend in Hull as well, where teachers have to work extra hard in order to help children from deprived backgrounds.
Education in the East Riding is filled with self satisfied and smug characters who sneer at Hull and think they are doing a better job just because their pupils have more self control!
In reality children are not being pushed as ER teachers can't be bothered but at least Ms Michalska's heart is in the right place.
PS: I don't work in education...”
by CHRIS, Yorkshire
Friday, January 14 2011, 4:35PM
“It could that after all the Hull kids fail the GCSEs that they really excel at A levels!!”