The Values and Character Dispositions of 14-16 Year Olds in the Hodge Hill Constituency

school meals. All schools have high proportions of students using English as a second
language. Only three of the six schools in the area have post-16 provision. Teachers in
the study referred to this scarcity of sixth form provision as a significant barrier. The
numbers of students moving into the selective school system from this area are lower
than the general Birmingham population (8% of students attend selective schools in
Birmingham, against 3% from the Hodge Hill Constituency). Those that do attend
selective schools are mainly of Pakistani origin (68%).

At least 30% of students attend schools outside the area. These students impact on local
schools by ‘removing’ some children of educationally ‘aspirant’ families. Primary schools in
the area record high levels of mobility, indicating that some sections of the population are
transient. Secondary school attendance records also show high levels of authorised absence.

Pupil achievement at Key Stage 2 is slightly lower than the national average, but not
hugely so. Average performance is 1 or 2 points lower than Birmingham LEA averages.
However, at Key Stage 3 the gap becomes more marked: up to 3.6 points down on LEA
averages. The LEA has suggested that this fall may be, in part, because of low levels of
proficiency in English. In 2005 the national average in England for achievement of Level
5 or above at Key Stage 3 in English was 74%. By contrast, in local schools attainment
at Key Stage 3 ranged from 46% to 64%. In Science the national average achievement
was 70%, while locally it ranged from 39% to 66%. In Mathematics, the national average
achievement was 74%; locally the range was from 49% to 66%.

The original HEFCE Young Participation Report was based on data from 2002. In 2002
secondary schools in Hodge Hill showed low performance in pupil achievement at Key
Stage 4. The national average for students achieving five A* - C and equivalent was
51.6%. Schools in the area ranged from 13% to 44% (average 27.5%). This has shifted
somewhat, so that in 2005, the national average was 56.3% and schools in the Hodge Hill
Constituency ranged from 25% to 53% (average 39.17%).

Pupil achievement was not the same at each school, as can be seen from the following
table:

Generalised GCSE performance of local schools at GCSE stage 2006-2008

* Source DCSF Secondary School (GCSE and equivalent) Achievement and Attainment Tables
http//www.dcsf.gov.uk/performancetables/schools_08.shtml;

http//www.dcsf.gov.uk/performancetables/schools_07.shtml;

http//www.dcsf.gov.uk/performancetables/schools_06.shtm

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