Decision details

Consideration was given to the report which presented an overview of the provisional un-validated educational outcomes of children and young people in primary, special, secondary schools and academies in Rotherham for the academic year ending in the summer of 2018. National averages in the primary phase were sourced from the National Consortium of Examination Results (NCER) software. The Department for Education (DfE) would publish provisional national averages for all phases later in the Autumn Term 2018. Final validated data for all phases would not be available until February, 2019.

Performance in the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP) for a ‘Good Level of Development’ (GLD) had continued to rise and was, again, above the national average (by 1.4% in 2018).

In Key Stage 1, 65% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined in 2018, compared to 64% in 2017. Rotherham had improved by 1% and was in line with the national average at 65.4%. In the greater depth standard for reading, writing and mathematics combined at KS1, Rotherham had improved by 0.5% to 12.7%; this was 1% above the national average at 11.7%.

In Key Stage 2, 61.5% of pupils met the expected standard in in reading, writing and mathematics combined in 2018, compared to 60.8% in 2017. Rotherham had improved by 0.7% and was 2.5% below the national average. In the higher standard for reading, writing and mathematics combined at KS2, Rotherham improved by 1.1% to 8.2%; this is 1.7% below the national average at 9.9%.

In 2018, the average KS1- KS2 progress score for Rotherham LA in reading is   -0.6 (sig-), in writing was +0.7 (sig+) and in maths is + 0.0. The progress measure in reading was identified as significantly below the national average; the progress in writing was identified as significantly above the national average.

At Key Stage 4, the average Attainment 8 score per pupil had decreased by 1.7 points to 43.3 in 2018. The national average increased by 0.1 points to 46.5 (state-funded i.e. LA maintained schools, academies and free schools) and decreased by 0.3 points to 44.3 (all schools including the independent sector). The LA average is 3.2 points below the national average (state-funded schools) and 1.0 point below the national average (all schools).

At KS4, the percentage of pupils achieving grade 5 or above in English and maths was 37%; 6.2% below the national average (state-funded schools) and 2.9% below the national average (all schools).

At Key Stage 5, Rotherham LA overall A* to E pass rate had increased by 0.2% to 99.1% in 2018. Provisional national averages published on the BBC news website showed that the overall A* to E pass rate had marginally fallen to 97.6%. Rotherham LA average was 1.5% above the national average.

Moving forward with schools and academies it was planned to build a more cohesive approach to school improvement through the establishment of the Rotherham Education Strategic Partnership (RESP) with the primary aim of establishing this board to help lead educational strategy across the Council.

In response to queries about the progress between boys and girls it was noted that there continued to be a gap in achievement between girls and boys, but this reflected the national picture. The gap in Rotherham had increased slightly from 13.0% in 2017 to 13.4% in 2018.   This was just below the 2018 national gender gap of 13.5%.

Resolved:-  That the report be received and the latest provisional un-validated education outcomes in Rotherham in 2018 noted.