Improved NCEA pass rates

The latest NCEA pass rates for all of Marlborough's colleges show marked improvements from last year, but principals say there is no room for complacency when the new academic year begins next week.

Marlborough Boys' College pass rate for NCEA Level 1 increased by 14.7 per cent, from 59.6 per cent in 2009 to 74.3 per cent last year.

The results were based on students eligible to pass NCEA with the 80 credits or more and did not include those who left part-way through the year.

Principal Wayne Hegarty said the results were "outstanding" and reflected the amount of work put in by both teachers and students.

The college actively targeted year 11 students last year to set the bar high for academic achievement and the school's efforts had "borne fruit", he said.

Year 11 students had to earn their study leave at the end of the year and extra classes were run by teachers during the study break.

"The results would suggest that it's had an impact," he said.

The college would struggle to emulate a similar increase in the pass rate this year, but the school's goal was to "keep improving all the time".

Queen Charlotte College principal Tom Parsons was impressed by the 89 per cent of eligible students passing NCEA Level 1 last year compared with 71 per cent in 2009.

NCEA Level 2 results for the college showed a 10 per cent increase, from 86 per cent in 2009 to 96 per cent last year.

Mr Parsons was disappointed the high pass rate for Level 1 seemed to be a trade-off for lower merit or excellence passes.

It was important for the college not to become complacent and think "you've cracked it and you can lay off"', he said.

The college's emphasis this year will be on improving attendance which would involve a greater liaison with the community to get students to school.

The correlation between achievement and attendance was high, Mr Parsons said.

Students achieved more merit and excellence passes in years 12 and 13 than in previous years and Mr Parsons hoped more year 13 students this year would be awarded scholarships.

"For a decile four school, and with a 30 per cent Maori roll, it goes to show smaller rural schools can be as effective as any school in the country," he said.

Marlborough Girls' College deputy principal Jude Young, also in charge of the school curriculum, said it was "awesome" achievement levels across the board had increased.

Level 1 results increased from 80 per cent in 2009 to 88.3 per cent last year; Level 2 from 84.5 per cent to 90 per cent, and Level 3 from 78.3 per cent to 86.3 per cent.

The results reflected an "absolutely concerted effort" from staff, parents and students, she said.

Students realised getting into university was becoming more competitive which meant "head down and bum up", she said.

This year, the college would focus on increasing the number of merit and excellence passes, she said.

"We've got quantity; now we want quality."

LOCAL NCEA RESULTS

Marlborough Boys' College

NCEA Level 1 74.3 per cent 2010 59.6 per cent 2009

NCEA Level 2 79.3 per cent 2010 72.5 per cent 2009

NCEA Level 3 65.9 per cent 2010 64 per cent 2009

Queen Charlotte College

NCEA Level 1 89 per cent 2010 71 per cent 2009

NCEA Level 2 96 per cent 2010 86 per cent 2009

NCEA Level 3 66 per cent 2010 66 per cent 2009

Marlborough Girls' College

NCEA Level 1 88.3 per cent 2010 80 per cent 2009

NCEA Level 2 90 per cent 2010 84.5 per cent 2009

NCEA Level 3 86.3 per cent 2010 78.3 per cent 2009

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 12:00 27/01/2011

SCOTT HAMMOND/Marlborough Express

GOOD RESULT: Marlborough Boys' College principal Wayne Hegarty says efforts last year to raise academic achievement have paid off.