Agenda and minutes

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet Member, Education, Culture and Leisure Services held on 25^th May, 2004 be received.

Helen Shaw, Community Learning Manager, and Sue Shelley, Out of Hours Learning Co-ordinator, were welcomed to the meeting to give a presentation on the ‘Extended Schools’ initiative.

The presentation covered the following issues:-

-           DfES definition of “What is an extended school?”

-           the aims of the initiative being to raise the attainment of pupils and to open up schools to local communities and to effect social and economic regeneration

-           what an extended school could provide

-           the work needed to change schools’ philosophy

-           the results of the Extended Schools Pathfinder evaluation which showed early indicators of the impact on attainment

-           the importance and impact of parental involvement

-           the key players involved in the setting up of an extended school e.g. Governors, LEA, Key partners and the local community

-           an explanation of the Extended Schools Team

-           funding through the behaviour improvement programme

-           Community Learning Plan

-           the Vision and partnership involvement

-           next steps

It was pointed out that there was no one model and therefore each school had to work at its own pace.  It was also noted that every school had potential for some degree of extension.

Emphasis was made that this initiative was not a crisis intervention service.

Members made reference to the future development of this initiative, and to the links between it and the regeneration of the Borough.  Reference was also made to the need to build the Community Learning Plans in to the Area Assemblies.

Resolved:-  (1)  That Helen Shaw and Sue Shelley be thanked for their  interesting and informative presentation.

(2)       That the presentation be given to the Regeneration Board in view of the social and economic regeneration aspects of this initiative.

(3)       That the Extended Schools Team liaise with the Area Partnership Manager with a view to this item being placed on the agenda for discussion at the Area Assembly Chairs’ meeting.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the above meeting held on 13^th May, 2004 be received.

Consideration was given to a report of the Principal Adviser, Quality and Performance, the contents of which highlight effective schools and informs of any schools that are not offering a satisfactory quality of education.

This followed an inspection of Primary schools in the spring term, 2004 (no secondary or special schools were inspected in this period).

Twelve schools have been inspected to the new OFSTED framework over the course of the spring term.  This is graded on OFSTED’s seven point score (1=excellent, 2=very good, 3=good, 4=satisfactory, 5=unsatisfactory, 6=poor, 7=very poor) and gave an effective oversight of the strengths and weaknesses of each school inspected.

Parents’ summaries for each of these schools are attached as Appendix 1, together with Part D: Summary of the Main Inspection Judgements from the main report.

From the twelve reports there is clear evidence of a very significant proportion of good and improving schools in Rotherham, with only two schools being designated as having ‘serious weaknesses’.

The following schools had been inspected:-

-                  Blackburn Primary School

-                  Bramley Sunnyside Junior School

-                  Canklow Woods Primary School

-                  Catcliffe Primary School

-                  Dinnington Primary School

-                  Herringthorpe Junior School

-                  Kimberworth Infant School

-                  Maltby Crags Junior School

-                  Rawmarsh Children’s Centre

-                  Redscope Infant School

-                  St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School (Maltby)

-                  Swinton Queen Primary School

Members referred to the number of times that attendance was raised as a problem.  In explanation it was reported that this was now much more explicit because of the numeric summary provided by OFSTED with each report.  Reference was also made to measures that had been put in placed to address this issue and which were having a positive impact.  Also attention was drawn to the impact of parental holidays on children’s attendance and that this was an issue for many schools.

Members expressed the view that the summaries of the main inspection judgements were well focussed and illustrated well the qualities of schools.

Those present discussed the two schools identified as having difficulties and reference was made to management changes, staffing issues, recruitment and retention policy, the role of Governors and the Governing Body.

It was reported that work was continuing on action plans and strategies to help support these schools.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the reports be received.

(2)  That those schools with very good and good provision be congratulated on the outcome of their OFSTED inspection and that the other schools be encouraged to improve further the quality of their educational provision as rapidly as possible.