The Education (School Performance Targets) (England) Regulations 1998

(Regulations 4 and 6)

SCHEDULE 1 (Supplementary provisions about performance targets and attainment results for pupils aged 15)

1.—(1) For the purposes of regulations 4 and 6, questions as to—

(a) which vocational qualification award corresponds to which GCSE examination grade, and

(b) the equivalency between GCSE examination results and vocational qualifications,

shall be determined in accordance with sub-paragraphs (2) to (8).

(2) Where a pupil is awarded a Part One GNVQ (Intermediate level), he shall be treated as having achieved grade A* to C in two GCSE subjects.

(3) Where a pupil is awarded a Part One GNVQ (Foundation level), he shall be treated as having achieved grade D to G in two GCSE subjects.

(4) Where a pupil is awarded an Intermediate GNVQ, he shall be treated as having achieved grade A* to C in four GCSE subjects.

(5) Where a pupil is awarded a Foundation GNVQ, he shall be treated as having achieved grade D to G in four GCSE subjects.

(6) Where a pupil is awarded a GNVQ Language Unit (Intermediate level), he shall be treated as having achieved grade A* in half a GCSE subject.

(7) Where a pupil is awarded a GNVQ Language Unit (Foundation level), he shall be treated as having achieved grade D in half a GCSE subject.

(8) Where a pupil is awarded a grade in an examination relating to a GCSE short course, he shall be treated as having achieved that grade in half a GCSE subject.

2.—(1) In relation to a school to which regulation 4 applies, and for the purposes of that regulation and regulation 6, the average point score for the school achieved by pupils aged 15 in grades in GCSE examinations or in vocational qualifications in relation to any school year shall be ascertained by—

(a) aggregating the value in points of all such grades or qualifications awarded to every pupil aged 15 by the end of that year, and then

(b) dividing that aggregate by the total number of pupils aged 15.

(2) Paragraph 3 shall apply for the purposes of determining the value in points of—

(a) a grade awarded in a GCSE examination, and

(b) the award of a vocational qualification.

(3) In this paragraph, “pupil aged 15”, in relation to a school and to any school year, means—

(a) for the purposes of setting the targets specified in regulation 4, any person who is in the relevant group of pupils aged 15 (as defined in that regulation); and

(b) for the purposes of the publication of pupils' attainment results under regulation 6, any person who—

(i) is a registered pupil on the third Thursday in January in that year, and

(ii) attained that age during the period of twelve months ending on the 31st August immediately preceding that day.

3.—(1) For the purposes of paragraph 2, the value in points of—

(a) a grade awarded in a GCSE examination, and

(b) the award of a vocational qualification,

shall be determined as follows.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), a GCSE grade shall have the value in points specified in the following table—

Table

GCSE grade	Value in points
A*	8
A	7
B	6
C	5
D	4
E	3
F	2
G	1

.

(3) Where the grade awarded relates to a GCSE short course examination, it shall have the value in points determined in accordance with the above table divided by two.

(4) The award of a vocational qualification (other than a GNVQ Language Unit) shall have the value in points specified in the following table—

Table

	Part 1 GNVQ	Part 1 GNVQ	Intermediate GNVQ	Foundation GNVQ
	Intermediate	Foundation
Grade	Value in points	Value in points	Value in points	Value in points
Distinction	15	8	30	16
Merit	12	6	24	12
Pass	10	3	20	6

.

(5) The award of a GNVQ Language Unit shall have the following value in points—

(a) 3.5 points (where it is an Intermediate level Unit), or

(b) 2 points (where it is a Foundation level Unit).

4.  For the purposes of setting the targets specified in regulation 4, any reference in this Schedule to the achievement or award of—

(a) a grade in a GCSE examination, or

(b) a vocational qualification,

shall be construed as if it were a reference to the award or achievement of a grade or qualification by the end of the school year for which such targets are required to be set by virtue of that regulation.