GRAYS CONVENT tops the Thurrock schools league in the percentage of students taking on a full tranche of traditional EBACC subjects.
The Ebacc subjects are: English, Maths, a Humanity, a Science and an IT subject.
Government education boss, Michael Gove has pushed for more emphasis on traditional subjects after concerns that some schools were playing an exam game, a game that, some say, was making the GCSE “a debased currency”.
Grays Convent has 62 students (50%) of their students entered for the subjects. They are closely followed by Gable Hall who have a remarkable 118 students (49%) taking on the Ebacc.
Puzzlingly, Harris Academy still have a less than impressive 46 students (26%) entered for the Ebacc subjects. It is an increase on the 10% last year but still begs a question as to why a school that boasts over 90% of students achieving 5 A* to C (inc Eng and Maths) has such a comparable low entry compared to Grays Convent and Gable Hall.
Some may also ask questions of Gateway Academy with only eight students (4%) taking a full complement of Ebacc subjects.
The Ebacc entry rankings are as follows:
1. Grays Convent: 62 (50%)
2. Gable Hall: 118 (49%)
3. St Clere’s: 94 (46%)
4. William Edwards: 94 (38%)
5. Harris Academy: 46 (26%)
6. Grays School: 42 (23%)
7. Ockendon Acad: 38 (22%)
8. Hassenbrook Academy: 33 (22%)
9. Ormiston Park Academy: 13 (10%)
10. Gateway Academy: 8 (4%)
CONVENT IN CRISIS!!!!!!.
Schooling today is sadly just a game and has nothing to do with ‘education’! ‘Qualifications’ are what matters to the likes of the exam factory The Harris Academy!
Good luck to the ‘robots’ in their fancy uniform you attend the sterile campus…they’re gonna need it in the real world, deficient of the employability skills (resilience, social skills, character and personality etc.) they’ll need to make a positive contribution to society!
Oh dear there you go again Every Child Matters,attacking the pupils of Harris Academy it is quite obvious you have a particular axe to grind with this establishment .
ECM seems like a very bitter person,i think someone close to them got excluded for behaviour issues.
rocket1 & PERMAN, alas you are both sadly mistaken! I’m just a humble citizen, who believes in ‘real’ education, where ‘every child matters’!
Please view this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-25881774
More emphasis on “team working, emotional maturity, empathy and other interpersonal skills”, which it says are “as important as proficiency in English and mathematics in ensuring young people’s employment prospects”.
It’s NOT just about qualifications!!! When will the world listen, to this boy with a thorn in his side?!
Agree E.C.M. every child does matter,still doesn’t explain why you concentrate all your vitriol on Harrris Academy surely by your definition all Thurrock Schools are ” exam factories populated by robots”?
Could the reason for the low uptake on EBACC be something to do with the staff of these “factories” who after all are the best judges deciding that entering pupils for subjects for which they have no natural aptitude is a waste of time and energy for both parties,better then to enter them for subjects they have a far more likelihood of passing?
It’s just a thought.
he has a issue with harris campus and ockendon sin-bin,obviously linked.
My ‘vitriol’ directed at The Harris Academy, is purely because this particular exam factory in my opinion, sadly epitomises exactly what is wrong in education today!
School days are supposed to be the best of your life! Whenever, I have visited the clinical Chafford Carpet-us, I never see or hear any fun or laughter whatsoever…hence the ‘robots’ reference!
For example, sport is non-existent at the Academy! Even in 2012, Olympic year, pupils were denied PE opportunities, in preference of extra Maths & English lessons to boost ‘qualifications’!
In team games they couldn’t beat an egg…even in Thurrock, the weakest sporting borough in Essex!
they got a lot of youngsters into university this year,thats something else that thurrock is very weak at.
So you visit Chafford Campus in what capacity?You claim sport is non existent yet one of their pupils is playing football for England Schoolboys ,one of their teams reached the final of a Southern England cup competion, others represent the County in various sports.A number of students have and do attend Russel group universities, you really must stop making these sweeping statements which are not backed up by the facts.I
“I never see or hear any fun or laughter” is a ridiculous comment to make,
Say what you like E.C.M.what comes through quite clearly in your comments is that indeed you do have an axe to grind, only you must know why.
FYI. Our sister paper, http://www.yourharlow.com published a similar story
http://www.yourharlow.com/2014/01/28/st-marks-top-table-in-students-attempting-traditional-subjects/
Both articles show a similar pattern
1. Catholic school at top of entry league.
2. The school that is top of the 5 A* to C league show a significant discrepancy btw that figure and the number of students that have been entered for Ebacc subjects.
Perhaps you should see the comment on the Harlow story.
rocket1 “they got a lot of youngsters into university this year,thats something else that thurrock is very weak at”
Isn’t that just down to affluent parents not academic ability?!
PERMAN, “one of their pupils is playing football for England Schoolboys”. ‘One’…’one’, I wrote team sports! Do you really believe this young man’s achievement is solely down to the school?! We had 3 National swimmers at our school…and didn’t even have a pool! Yes we took the credit, but it was down to Romford Killer Whales! What year is he in? If he’s in the 6th Form and any good, he’d be playing for a Pro Team full-time!
“I never see or hear any fun or laughter” is a ridiculous comment to make. Why is it? This is my honest opinion whenever I visit! Go to William Edwards or St. Cleres, where well rounded students are ‘created’! Pupils with personality, character, resilience and social skills…all necessary qualities that children need, more than just ‘qualifications’ to make a positive contribution to society and be successful citizens!
he comes across as a sad and bitter man.
rocket1
Sad and bitter…moi? (that’s French for ‘me’ by the way)!
Just a thought, but were you bullied at school? I’d love to know what your connection with schools is today! You seem clueless regarding ‘education’, basing your opinions on Waterloo Road! I guess you’re just a parent…who has never experienced life in schools at the coal front!
You clearly are involved in education in some capacity and you clearly do have an axe to grind with Harris Academy,you make sweeping and juvenile statements, as I have said before without any basis in fact.
Kids getting into university because their parents are affluent?What a completely ludicrous statement,kids are trying to better themselves in an area with low aspirations and very little drive compounded by a weak and ineffective local education authority. Harris not only caters for Chafford Hundred(a more affluent area)but also the polar opposite; West Thurrock- how can this be a bad thing to raise their aspirations and improve their chances in life!!!!
You have still not answered my question in what capacity did you visit Harris and indeed William Edwards and St Cleres??
i am just a parent,my son left the harris campus last summer and i am very satisfied with the education he received there.so ”mange tout” to you.thats french by the way.
PERMAN, you’re right, I am involved in Education, I went to school as a child…and I’ve completed many roles with distinction in Primary, Secondary and Special schools, consultancy, governance and school improvement over many, many, years!
In other words, I’ve been there, seen it, done it! I know what I’m talking about…unlike ‘some’ who are ‘just‘ parents and I repeat, base their opinions on Waterloo Road et al!
Please listen, I have no axe to grind with the Harris Academy for the umpteenth time! Although in ‘my’ opinion (which I am allowed) I just would never send any child of mine there! Personally, I prefer well-rounded offspring, who are not only resilient with social skills, but are team players from their sporting prowess, confident individuals, successful learners, who will become responsible citizens and make a positive contribution to society…all with a smile on their face, because their school days were the best of their lives (so far) full of fun, frivolity and enjoyment and not just about exams and qualifications that alone, will have no actual bearing on how successful they are in the future…that’s all!
“Sweeping and juvenile statement”! Maybe, this is just banter, humour or pulling your leg! There seems less mirth, humour and merriment in your personality, than there is in a Harris Carpet-us classroom…and that is saying something!
“What a ludicrous statement”?! How many Tilbs or young men and women from Grays or South Ockendon do you know who are off to Oxbridge? Right or wrong it’s all about money, money, money! Not gender or race…but money and social class! I rest my case m’Lord, no further questions!
PERMAN who are you? Who are ya…who are ya?!
rocket1, I am pleased you’re satisfied with the ‘education’ (or do you mean the ‘qualifications’…there is a difference you know) your son received at the Harris Academy…’horses for courses’ and wish him every success in the future.
No disrespect, but is he now prepared for life though? Surly, that’s what schooling should be all about…even exam factories!
Time will tell…keep me posted!
when my son finishes his degree i will let you know how he is.