Value added measures are intended to allow fairer comparisons between schools with different student intakes. Each student's value added score is based on a comparison between their best eight results at GCSE and their Key Stage 3 SAT results.

As Principal, Peter Simpson says: 'We add value to all our students, and each of our students are themselves valued as part of the Brooke Weston community.'

This year Brooke Weston was invited to take on a second specialism due to its high performance. The DfES selected just 24 high performing schools nationwide to take part in the scheme. Brooke Weston opted to take on a second 'vocational' specialism, which means it will have a key role to play in driving up the numbers of young people achieving vocational qualifications including English and mathematics.

This will be done through the implementation of the Government's '14 – 19 Plan' which encourages partnership between local schools and Colleges, training providers, local businesses and employers to provide wide ranging and broad education for all.

Brooke Weston is delighted to have been selected by the DfES to be in the first cohort of schools to be involved in the implementation of this scheme. The Government target is that 200 schools will become vocational specialist schools by 2008.