GCSE

Students take a number of GCSE exams in Year 11 of their secondary education.

GCSE exams are awarded a grade ranging from A* to G. For the basis of calculation each grade is given a numerical value - 8 points for an A* grade to 1 point for a G grade.

The chart shows the average points score for every student who took GCSEs in 1997. An average score of 5 indicates that a student was gaining principally grade Cs - a standard benchmark for progression to more advanced studies post-16.

The chart also shows that there are a number of areas in the city where students are achieving high average points scores.

The south east area of the city continues to show the highest levels of achievement, but the north east is now almost equal in levels of achievement.

The outer ring of public housing on the South West and North West show consistently low levels of achievement.
However, there are also isolated areas of low achievement such as Northfields and Rowlatts Hill.