Farnham College Chalks Up Another 'Value Added' Success

Thursday 2 April 2009

On average, students do better at Farnham College than they do at most other sixth form schools and colleges in the country, according to a national performance indicator.

The Advanced Level Performance System (Alps), a nationally recognised analysis and training package, indicates that the college is in the top 15% of the 1,031 schools and colleges in the UK whose results were analysed for 'value added' attainment. The system, recognised by bodies such as OFSTED and the Learning and Skills Council, rates how well students achieve at AS and A Level based on a comparison with their GCSE results.

The Alps analysis for 2006-08 demonstrates that students at Farnham College on average perform better at A Level than their prior attainment at GCSE suggests they should. It is the third consecutive time that the college has been among the top performers.

Fred Carter, Director of Farnham College, said: "Our value added success is due to a combination of factors – good teaching, support from staff and parents, effective initial advice and guidance and consistent target setting and monitoring. We are delighted at this continuing recognition of the high quality teaching and learning that the College offers."Alyson Coombes, who is now reading French and German at Royal Holloway, University of London, gained A grades in A Level Maths, Further Maths and French at Farnham College. "I believe that the size of the college and the fact that teachers made the effort to get to know me as an individual rather than just another student helped me to achieve," she said.