Condition of Nottinghamshire - Learning

1) Learning

The learning priority has no figures down to ward level and District level figures are shown on the Learning Table. Eleven indicators are given compared to the 9 for which details were given in Condition 2000. Whereas in the last edition the Absence from School and Low Educational Attainment indicators were classified under Social Cohesion, in this volume they are grouped under the Learning priority.

Special Educational Need is higher in Broxtowe, Bassetlaw and Newark & Sherwood and the overall rate for the county increased slightly between 1999 and 2000.

Both Authorised and Unauthorised Absence rates are highest in Mansfield with Bassetlaw and Ashfield also recording high rates. No comparisons are possible with 1999 as earlier editions combined authorised and unauthorised absences. In comparison with national and regional figures the County's level of authorised absences is better whilst unauthorised absence levels are very similar.

Rates of Staying on in Education (full time after age 16) show great disparities within the county with Ashfield having a rate of less than 60% and Rushcliffe one of 82%. The county average is close to both regional and national figures.

Key Stage results for Maths and English, at both KS 2 and 3, show similar patterns with Ashfield and Mansfield recording the worst figures followed by Newark & Sherwood. Overall county performance increased between 1999 and 2000 on all the Key Stage 2 and 3 measures, most dramatically KS 2 and 3 in maths. In spite of these marked improvements, overall county averages remain some percentage points below national levels.

Under each of the 3 GCSE indicators, - GCSE Points Score, 5 A-C GCSEs and No GCSE Passes, Mansfield records the worst performance. In terms of regional comparisons, the county's performance on overall GCSE points score is similar but has some way to go before matching national figures on 5 A-C GCSEs and the level of no GCSE passes. For each of the Learning indicators Rushcliffe records the best performance; under the Key Stage results for example, Rushcliffe's performance is over 20% points better than that of the worst performing districts.