Duke of York's Royal Military School (Hansard, 7 March 2000)

§ Dr. Moonie

[holding answer 6 March 2000]This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Duke of York's Royal Military School Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the "right" hon. and learned Member.Letter from J. A. Cummings to Mr. Menzies Campbell, dated 7 March 2000: I am replying to your Question to Secretary of State for Defence about (a) those targets of the Duke of York's Royal Military School for 1998–99 which (i) were and (ii) were not achieved, giving the factors affecting the outcome in each case and (b) action taken by the agency to improve target achievement performance in 1999–2000; as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of this Agency. A copy of the 98–99 Corporate and Management Plan which contains these targets is held in the House Library. (a) (i) The Key Targets that were achieved in 1998/99 are as follows: Key Target 2 To achieve 5 or more GCSE passes at grades A* to C to 78% of candidates. Achievement was 90.1% exceeding target by 12.1%. Key Target 3 To achieve 88% of A levels passes at grades A to E. Achievement was 95.2% exceeding target by 7.2%. Key Target 4 To achieve 3 or more A level passes at grade A to E for 80% of candidates. Achievement was 81.8% exceeding target by 1.8%. Key Target 6 To achieve 100% GNVQ Advanced BTEC National Diploma passes. Achievement was 100%. Key Target 7 To achieve places in higher education for 70% of sixth form leavers. Achievement was 85% exceeding target by 15%. Key Target 8 To achieve a pupil per capita cost of no more than £13,151. Achievement was £11,020, £2.131 less than target. Key Target 9 To generate income of at least £452,000. Achievement £492,000, £40,000 in excess of the target. Key Target 10 To achieve at least 260 applications for September 1999 intake. Achievement was 294. (ii) Key Targets that were not achieved in 1998/99 are as follows: Key Target 1 To Achieve 100% of GCSE passes at A* to G target was 100%. Achievement was 99.86%. This reflected one candidate who did not complete all of the assessment requirements for one subject being upgraded in that subject. 737 other subject entries were graded in the range A* to G with a total of 89.30% being graded in the range A-C. Key Target 5 To achieve 34% of A Level passes at grades A to B. Achievement was 31.9%. The percentage of A and B grades achieved reflected credit on that cohort of students. Unfortunately, the cohort as a whole was less able than in 97–98, nevertheless this was an improvement on 96–97. (b) The Agency's Key Targets (KTs) are reviewed annually by the Board of HM Commissioners for the school and the Adjutant General's staff, to ensure targets are taut, realistic and demanding. The annual targets set for the School's academic performance (KTI-6) show an increase each year. As part of the exercise to seek 635W better performance targets are cascaded to Heads of Department allowing them to take more ownership. However, academic performance is dependant on pupil ability. Recognising this we will be considering alternative ways of measuring performance on the basis of the 'value added' by the school to the pupil. In line with the continuing drive for efficiency, the School's per capita rate and the income generation target is kept constantly under review.