Agenda and minutes

Resolved:-  That the minutes of a meeting of the Christmas Carnival Co-ordinating Group held on 23^rd September, 2004 be received.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of a meeting of Rotherham Cultural Consortium held on 15^th September, 2004 be received.

Brian James, Chief Executive of RBT (Connect) Ltd. gave a verbal report on the current situation with regard to the installation of the Rotherham Learning Grid to schools.

Work was on schedule to meet the deadline of 15^th December for the installation of all the circuits.

Particular attention was made to the need to arrange access to schools prior to the half term holiday.

Dawn Rowley, Information and Performance Review Manager, reported that eight circuits per week had been installed in order to meet targets.  Slippage on this deadline was not anticipated.

In addition, the Learning Grid Steering Group was monitoring the situation.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the verbal report be noted.

(2)  That a written report be submitted to the Cabinet Member meeting on 30^th November, 2004 as this will be close to the end of the RGfL Implementation end date of 15^th December, 2004.

This item was deferred to a future meeting.

Pursuant to Minute No. 63 of a meeting of the Cabinet Member, Education, Culture and Leisure Services held on 21^st September, 2004, consideration was given to a report of the Strategic Leader, School Improvement on the work presently being undertaken in Schools in Ofsted or DfES categories.  The report covers all those schools having this designation, together with any other schools in either an Ofsted category or identified by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) as being of concern.

The report entitled Performance Indicators – ECaLS 2004/05 – 1^st Quarter Report, highlighted concerns about the Local Performance Indicator (LPI) relating to the percentage of schools with Serious Weakness (SW).  This indicator was reflecting an increase in the percentage of schools being placed in this Ofsted category.

The report contained statistical details on schools designated by Ofsted as having Serious Weaknesses.  No school was in Special Measures (SM).

Additionally, there is a Government (DfES) “floor target” relating to secondary schools.  This floor target is that by 2004 no secondary school should have fewer than 20% of its pupils achieving 5+ GCSEs at Grades A*-C.  On the basis of the 2003 GCSE results, one secondary school was identified as at risk of not meeting this floor target.  The school was the focus of intensive support and in 2004 the school’s figure for 5+ A*-C was 29%, well in excess of the 2004 target and above the floor target for 2006.

An in-depth examination had taken place and a lengthy discussion ensued on the following issues:

-                       Attainment levels

-                       Leadership provision of key staff

-                       Leadership Incentive Grant

-                       Targeted support to schools and progress on LEA Action Plans

-                       Mentors

-                       Governor support

-                       Budget

-                       Community links

-                       Vision

-                       Local Grants and Funds

-                       Improvement since previous Ofsted

-                       Value Added Measure

-                       Staffing Issues

-                       New Building Initiatives

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

(2)  That further reports on this matter be submitted on a six monthly basis.