The Hereford Academy defends performance (From Hereford Times)

The Hereford Academy defends performance

9:59am Thursday 21st January 2010

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,A Hereford school has defended its performance after new figures showed that it dipped below minimum Government exam standards.

The Hereford Academy is making English and maths a priority because only 25 per cent of pupils taking GCSEs last year gained five or more at A* to C grades including those subjects.

Government ministers are demanding at least 30 per cent of pupils gain five GCSE passes, including English and maths, at each school by 2011 – otherwise they could face a threat of closure or merger.

John Sheppard, principal of the school, which will soon be rebuilt at a cost of £23 million, said: "We were disappointed with these results and have put in place procedures to ensure that there will be a significant improvement this year.”

He added that this figure was in sharp contrast to its success in seeing 85 per cent of pupils gaining five or more A* to C grades overall.

He added the school had extra staff and classes to improve literacy and numeracy, and groups were smaller.

Work has begun on the school rebuild, expected to be complete by July 2011, including a twostorey building featuring a stateof- the-art science zone, art studios and music rooms.

The Academy is the latest name for a school previously known as Redhill, Haywood and Wyebridge.

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