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Merchant Taylors' Boys School Backs the iGCSE
Press Release - 9 January 2008
Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School says that a 100% success rate at GCSE has been downgraded in this morning’s academic league tables because the Government refuses to reflect rising standards and breadth of choice in independent schools.
This morning’s Qualification and Curriculum Authority’s (QCA) league table states that only 22% of boys at the Crosby School passed five GCSEs including Mathematics and English at grades A* to C. However, Headmaster David Cook, argues that it is only because the QCA does not recognise the international GCSE (iGCSE) which Merchants’ Boys’ introduced in 2006 to ‘improve the quality of its educational provision’.
Mr Cook said: ‘Whether taking the standard UK GCSE or the new internationally recognised iGCSE, 100% of our boys passed Mathematics at grades A* to C. However, as more than three-quarters of our boys now sit the international examination, which the Government does not recognise, our results have been severely downgraded. Although Merchants’ remains in the premier league table for five passes across all subjects, this particular statistic is completely misleading,’ said Mr Cook.
He added: ‘The decision to offer iGCSE Maths alongside the mainstream GCSE reflects our capacity to offer curriculum choice and our deeply held commitment to stretch our boys academically irrespective of any perceived impact it may have on league tables.’
2007 iGCSE Mathematics Results:
74 Candidates
29 - 39% A*64 - 87% A*/A
74 - 100% A*/A/B