25 Mar 2015

Cockburn School - one of the best in the country for student progress at GCSE


Issued on behalf of Cockburn School



Cockburn School has received national recognition for the value it adds to students’ achievements at GCSE.



SSAT, the Schools, Students and Teachers Network, recently undertook its annual in-depth analysis of official Department for Education data on all state-funded schools in England and identified Cockburn’s success.



The school has qualified for an SSAT Educational Outcomes Award by being in the top 10% of schools nationally for progress made by pupils between their key stage 2 results at primary school and their GCSE results at age 16.



The school has been invited to receive their award at a regional celebration ceremony hosted by SSAT at Dixons Allerton Academy in Bradford on 11 May.



Sue Williamson, Chief Executive of SSAT said:

“Cockburn should be congratulated for their exceptional achievement. They have proved themselves to be leading the field in improving GCSE outcomes for their students. There is so much good practice that this school could share, and I hope they will join us at the celebration evening for the chance to network and share strategies with award-winning schools.



“These results are testament to the commitment and hard work of the students, teachers and leadership team at Cockburn, and show what can be achieved when skilled teachers have high expectations and ambition for every young person. I am proud that this school is a member of the SSAT network.”



Dave Gurney, headteacher of Cockburn School said:

“We are immensely proud to be recognised once again by SSAT for our outstanding progress to be in the top 10% of all school's nationally. This really is testament to the outstanding work of all our staff, and their commitment to making sure that all our children and young people have excellent outcomes.”



ENDS



Note to editors

Cockburn is an inclusive foundation school whose focus is on each individual, acknowledging both their rights and responsibilities. A strong care, support and guidance structure underpins a curriculum that seeks to develop the potential of every student. Academic rigour is valued at all stages and we strive to create learning experiences that provide challenge, engagement and achievement. Our vision is to create opportunities within and beyond the curriculum to enable each student to develop their potential so that they become confident, independent and successful citizens. www.cockburnschool.org



About SSAT:

SSAT, the Schools, Students and Teachers Network, is the name of the company founded from the former Specialist Schools and Academies Trust in May 2012.

SSAT is an independent membership organisation for schools. Our work in helping transform education in England started in 1987. Back then our role was to support and nurture the first City Technology Colleges – the initiative that first proved the value of employers and schools working together to drive up standards. As specialist schools and then the first academies came into being, our brief was extended to supporting them as well. That work, underpinned by our ‘by schools, for schools’ ethos, laid the foundations for many of our activities today…the innovative leadership and teacher CPD programmes, the commitment to thought leadership and research and, of course, the network of school leaders and innovative teachers which still drives all that we do.

Contact: press@ssatuk.co.uk



For media enquiries contact:

Leeds City Council Communications team
communicationsteam@leeds.gov.uk