Following the most recent Government performance tables measuring progress, it was very pleasing to see Felsted among the top 10% nationally, and outperforming every single grammar school in Essex. These figures compare the performance of students in their A Levels, based upon prior attainment, to demonstrate the level of improvement that is made in these crucial two years.

Alongside the very broad co-curriculum, the outstanding creative and sporting opportunities, and the focus on character development, this is a very encouraging outcome for the school, and more importantly for the students in the school!

Because several of our subjects at GCSE level do not qualify for government statistics (which do not include iGCSE) we do not qualify for any of the measurements for 16+, but with nearly half of all GCSE grades over the last three years being A* or A, I have every confidence that our performance at this level would also have ranked us highly.

This reflects the hard work put in by all the students, as well as the outstanding teaching, support and encouragement provided by all of our teachers. It is not surprising that so many of our students were able to take up places at their first choice universities last term.

League tables tend only to show absolute achievement, and reflect the intake of a school, more than the quality of the teaching and learning. This recent measure is a much better way to look at the quality of education provided, focusing on progress, and puts us ahead of most of our competitors locally and nationally (such as Haileybury, Oundle, Oakham, Bradfield and Uppingham, to name a few). 

The data is available on the government's website: please click here to view. 

Chris Townsend
Headmaster