Exam Results & Performance Context
When evaluating a school's academic success, the Department for Education (DfE) provides several key metrics based on Key Stage 4 (KS4) outcomes, commonly known as GCSE results. These metrics are designed to show both the raw academic attainment of pupils and the progress they have made since primary school.
However, Broadstone Middle School is a middle deemed secondary school, serving pupils aged 9 to 13. Because pupils leave the school at the end of Year 8, they do not sit GCSE examinations while enrolled here. Consequently, the standard KS4 performance metrics (Attainment 8, Progress 8, Basics 9-5, and EBacc) are not published for this specific institution.
For parents comparing educational pathways within the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) area, it is still crucial to understand what these metrics mean, as they will apply to the upper secondary school your child eventually transfers to.
Attainment 8
What it measures: Attainment 8 calculates a pupil's average grade across eight key GCSE subjects, including English and Maths (which are double-weighted). It provides a snapshot of raw academic achievement.
At this school: Not published (Not applicable to middle schools).
Context: The England mainstream average is 46.3.
Progress 8
What it measures: Progress 8 measures how much progress pupils make from the end of primary school (KS2) to the end of secondary school (KS4), compared to pupils nationally with similar starting points. A score of 0 is the national average; a positive score means pupils made more progress than expected.
At this school: Not published.
Note on 2024-2025 Data: Nationwide, Progress 8 scores were not published for the 2024-2025 cohort. This is because these pupils did not sit KS2 SATs due to COVID-19 cancellations, meaning there is no baseline data to calculate their progress.
Basics 9-5 (English & Maths)
What it measures: This metric shows the percentage of pupils who achieved a strong pass (grade 5 or above) in both English and Mathematics GCSEs. It is a key indicator of foundational literacy and numeracy.
At this school: Not published.
EBacc Average Point Score (APS)
What it measures: The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) is a set of core academic subjects (English, maths, sciences, a language, and history or geography). The APS measures pupils' average point scores across these specific subjects.
At this school: Not published.
Evaluating Middle School Performance
Since standard GCSE league tables do not apply to Broadstone Middle School, parents should look to other indicators of the school's success. This includes reviewing their latest Ofsted inspection reports, discussing internal assessment methods directly with the school during open evenings, and examining the KS4 outcomes of the upper secondary schools that Broadstone Middle pupils typically feed into within the BCP local authority.