Future bright at City of London Academy Highbury Grove as head lauds ‘transformation’ of Islington school
City of London Academy Highbury Grove. Photo by Jamie Smith Photography - Credit: Archant
Record-breaking City of London Academy students are helping to transform the fortunes of the school, according to the executive principal at the helm.
The Progress 8 score for Highbury Grove has risen from -0.46 to 0.29, which means that, across eight subjects analysed by the Department for Education, pupils are achieving approximately six better GCSE grades in their subjects than they were in 2017.
This is the biggest improvement of any school in the borough.
The Islington school, which celebrated its best ever GCSE results this summer, was officially taken over by the City of London Academies Trust (CoLAT) in December last year.
The data also reveals the school saw 69 per cent of pupils achieving grade 4 at GCSE level (previously grade C) and above in English and maths, with approximately 50 per cent achieving the new benchmark grade 5 in English and maths. This represents a 10 per cent improvement on 2017.
Executive principal Clare Verga said: “The academic year 2017/2018 has been one of transformation at COLAHG and these examination results are testament to the vast improvement seen in standards being reached across the school.
“The outcomes achieved reflect the aspiration, determination and hard work put in by all our students and staff throughout the last academic year and I am exceptionally proud of what, with the support of our governors and parents, we are achieving together.”
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Another Islington school, which is part of CoLAT - City of London Academy Highgate Hill, previously Mount Carmel Catholic College for Girls - also saw a six per cent increase in GCSE passes in English and maths.
City of London Academy Islington (CoLAI), which the City Corporation co-sponsors with City, University of London, with figures produced by the school showing GCSE pass rates in English and maths are now running at 70pc - up from 30pc in 2011.
And at the newly-opened City of London Primary Academy Islington (CoLPAI), 10 per cent more pupils in reception achieved good levels of development compared to the national average, with 24 per cent of all pupils exceeding the government’s benchmark level for five year olds.
City of London Academy Highbury Grove, City of London Academy Highgate Hill and City of London Primary Academy Islington are part of the City of London Academies Trust, which runs the City of London Corporation’s sole sponsored academies.
