The Waugh Scale of Schools: Some Aren’t Even Schools

As is customary, one prefaces this post with the observation that there are very many fine state schools and many others, a good number of which are also grand, that do tireless work in demanding circumstances. Nevertheless…

According to government data released today, in England last year there were:

137 schools where no pupils were entered for geography GCSE 57 schools where no pupils were entered for history GCSE 30 schools where no pupils were entered for a modern language GCSE 219 schools where no pupils were entered for French GCSE 1,067 schools where no pupils were entered for Spanish GCSE 516 schools where no pupils were entered for any of the individual science GCSEs

For context: there are 3,100 secondary schools in England. So one in six didn’t enter pupils for Chemistry, Biology or Physics GCSE (though, presumably, a good number of them did enter pupils for general “science” exams involving elements from each f the distinct disciplines?). Still, 4% of schools entered no pupil for geography and 2% none for history.

On the Waugh Scale of Leading school, First-rate school, Good school and School I’m not sure some of these even qualify as School. Which, as you know, is bad news since, between you and me, School is pretty bad.

[Hat-tip: Mr Rentoul]