Letter from the DCSF, April 2009

It's official: nationally we're "amongst the top performing schools based on the most sustained year-on-year improvements". We're delighted to share this letter from the DCSF, which confirms the outstanding quality of learning that Bushfield offers. Thanks and congratulations to everyone... and we still manage to have lots of fun!

However, in respect of the Key Stage Two SATs Tests, the more important measure of a school’s success is not absolute attainment (ie % of Level 4s and above at KS2) because it takes no account of how much progress children have made from their individual starting points.

At Bushfield, we encourage all our children to ‘Be the best they can be’ and therefore the progress they make in their time with us is the more revealing and important factor in the statistics. The national measure in KS2 SATs that takes account of this is called the CVA score (Contextual Value Added score), and we are even more proud of this result which reflects the progress achievements of ALL our pupils. Our CVA (progress) score places us in the top 25% nationally and joint 8th in Milton Keynes — see the MK CVA table.

However, it is worth remembering that not everything that matters can be measured. We have the highest aspirations for every child and place great value upon celebrating both individual achievement and personal development as children learn and grow with us.

To find out more, follow this link to the Bushfield approach to learning...

17th April, 2009

2008 Primary School (KS2) Achievement & Attainment Tables

Dear Headteacher,

I am delighted to congratulate you on the excellent performance of your pupils in the 2008 National Key Stage 2 Tests published on 1st April, in the Achievement and Attainment Tables. It is an enormous credit to your staff, governors and pupils for their hard work and success.

Your results show that you are amongst the top performing schools based on the most sustained year-on-year improvements in Level 4+ aggregate performance from 2005 to 2008.

This is a great achievement of which you and all at the school can be proud, and I send my very best wishes for sustained improvement in the years to come.

Jim Knight, MP

Dept. for Children, Schools and Families
Minister of State for Schools & Learners