Published: Thursday, 29th January, 2009 7:00am

Results - parents speak out

by Annabel Williams

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PARENTS and a former pupil have explained to The Chronicle where they think Reading Borough's education system is going wrong after our exclusive story last week about exam results.

We revealed how, without Reading and Kendrick grammar schools to artificially bolster them, GCSE and A-level scores in the town are still below national averages.

A former Highdown School student, who left in 2006, says she is not surprised that results may not be as good as they seem because pupils themselves are often left misguided.

She said: "I did okay at Highdown but my brother and sister were pressured into doing courses they shouldn't have done.

"Highdown is a good institution but it does let a lot of people down because it forces everyone into the sixth form.

"You're given the impression that you'll have no future if you go anywhere else.

"My sister went to another college in the end and my brother's now doing an apprenticeship."

Another couple, whose son is at Prospect School, also spoke yesterday of their disillusionment.

The father, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "Our son was moving schools and basically Prospect was the only school in Reading with available places.

"There are children there who do seem to be disruptive and can get away with it. We have noticed our son's work decline since he has been there and we are worried."

The mum, from south Reading, added: "His cousin is 14 and at another Reading secondary school and we hear stories from him about total

disruption in classrooms with children standing on tables, throwing things, talking over the teacher and the teacher trying to teach the lesson with all this going on.

"I'm not surprised that GCSE results are so low."

Highdown headteacher Tim Royle says demand on sixth form places is so high that a new building was currently in the planning process.

He said: "We have 252 sixth form students this year, that will rise to 288 next year and 354 in 2010/11, that's why we need a new building.

"Last year we had 80 applications to Highdown's sixth form from other schools, we took on 50."

Prospect headteacher, Deborah Ajose, said: "If a parent has a problem with their child's education or well-being we have robust procedures in place to resolve any issues, and I would urge these parents to get in contact with me to discuss their issues."