In the St. Brigid’s Sixth Form, we use ALPS (A-level Performance System) to set targets for our students in their A-Level courses. These are always aspirational targets, which provide a useful starting point to the students’ academic year, and we are also able to use them to evaluate how well each students and subject area performs in terms of the ‘value-added’ indicator.

As the ALPS organisation states: ‘ALPS is a system that allows schools to get a measure of the value they add to a pupil's A level performance compared to what might be expected of them following their previous academic performance at GCSE. ALPS takes a pupil's average GCSE score and predicts the grades a pupil should be expected to achieve in their chosen A level subjects.  The ALPS three-year T score thermometer compares A level performances of pupils at one school with those in other schools nationally, compared to the outcomes of around 3,000 schools and colleges in the UK.’ 

The purpose of this system is to help teachers make informed decisions and encourage every student to achieve their maximum potential.

Alps is used by groups of schools and colleges all over the UK, including Multi-Academy Trusts, Local Authorities, or groups of schools and colleges working in partnership. It easily identifies students to celebrate or ‘at risk’ in specific subjects or across their curriculum, to allow for appropriate and timely intervention by subject or pastoral staff. Please see our information regarding the Sixth Form Stages System for more specific guidance concerning how these interventions take place.