Agenda and draft minutes
PDF 128 KBVenue: Town Hall, Moorgate Street, Rotherham.
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LEA Governor Appointments Minutes: Pursuant to Minute No. C50 of January 2000, consideration was given to nominations received to fill Local Authority vacancies on school governing bodies.
Resolved:- (1) That, with the effective date of appointment, the following appointments be made to school governing bodies, subject to satisfactory checks being undertaken:-
New Appointments
Anston Brook Primary J. Burton 31/03/09 AnstonPark Junior J. Savory 31/03/09 Aston Springwood Primary C. Trcek 31/03/09 Badsley Moor Junior A. Rolfe 31/03/09 Greasbrough Primary D. Ross 31/03/09 Kilnhurst Primary P. Kitchener 31/03/09 Rawmarsh Rosehill R. Stone 31/03/09 Rockingham J&I B. S. Chapman 31/03/09 Thorpe Hesley Infant M. Buxton 31/03/09 Our Lady & St Josephs Primary M. Walters 31/03/09 St Gerard’s Catholic T. Fenoughty 31/03/09 Thrybergh Fullerton Primary R. M. Ackroyd 31/03/09 Brinsworth Comprehensive C. Potts 31/03/09 Winterhill Comprehensive S. Currie 31/03/09
Re-appointments
Anston Park V. St. John 28/06/09 Brinsworth Manor Infant M. Barton 02/07/09 Maltby Hall Infant A. Brown 02/07/09 Rawmarsh Ashwood C. A. Eyre 28/06/09 Redscope Primary B. Watson 28/06/09 Oakwood Technology A. Emery 28/06/09 Swinton Comprehensive M. Gabbitas 02/07/09 Abbey Special T. R. Sharman 28/06/09
(2) That the application submitted by L. Sylvester be deferred pending completion of the form. |
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Minutes of the previous meeting held on 24th February, 2009 Minutes: Resolved:- That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 24th February, 2009, be received as a correct record. |
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Admissions Consultation: Annual Consultation Feedback Report for 2010/11 Admission Minutes: The Manager, School Organisation Planning and Development submitted, a report highlighting the issues that had arisen as a result of the annual consultation exercise with and between schools, other LEAs and parents.
All admission authorities must determine their arrangements by 15th April, 2009.
Annex 1 of the report submitted contained details of the LEA’s consultation document which was considered by governing bodies during the Autumn Term 2008. Annex 2 summarised the feedback received.
The Local Admissions Forum had also considered the report at its meeting on 19th March, 2009.
Resolved:- (1) That the proposed admission numbers contained within Annex 1 for community and controlled schools be confirmed for 2010/11 subject to the clarifications included in Annex 2, 1A.
(2) That the proposed admissions criteria for community and controlled schools for 2010/11, including the changes outlined in the consultation document, be agreed and adopted.
(3) That the changes relating to voluntary aided schools’ admissions criteria, as outlined in Annex 2 1B, be noted.
(4) That both Brampton Ellis CE Infant and Brampton Ellis CE Junior Schools be added to the list of schools that could be offered, as appropriate, for those applications falling under ‘preferences which cannot be satisfied’ contained within Section D of the co-ordinated scheme for primary schools.
(5) That the appropriate notice be published in respect of the proposed admission numbers for schools named in Annex 2 where the admission number will be less than that indicated by the current net capacity calculation.
(6) That the co-ordinated schemes for primary and secondary preferences be confirmed with minor changes to dates as outlined plus the changes agreed at (4) above.
(7) That this report be placed on the Authority’s website.
(8) That the admission criteria for entry to FS1 at community schools be amended to reflect the changes agreed at (2) above in order that the polices apply the same criteria for admission.
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GCSE Examination Results 2008 Additional documents: Minutes: Consideration was given to a report of the Head of School Effectiveness which set out the GCSE examination results for 2008 and how they compared to previous years, to the national average and to the results of statistical neighbours.
The key aspects of performance, as contained in the report, were:-
A. Overview i. Performance at GCSE 5+A*-C across the LA rose for the sixth consecutive year ii. On the now critical 5+A*-C including English and Maths indicator, the LA average rose 1.9% against a national average increase of 0.8% iii. Performance at 5+A*-G including English and Maths also rose 2.8% against a national average improvement of 0.5%. Rotherham now exceeded the national averages at 5 A*-G and 5A*-G including English and Maths iv. 9 of the 16 schools matched or exceeded Fischer Family Trust “D” measures for progress from KS2-4 i.e. progress equal to that of the top 25% of students nationally v. There was important improvement in key core subject departments in the Borough’s most vulnerable schools, notably in English, which was helping to improve the overall performance of boys
B. Priority areas for action 2008/9 i. The collaborative programme focussed on 5+A*-C including English and Maths performance led by a Consultant Head Teacher working with senior leaders across the 16 schools had been sustained for a second year. In 2008 it promoted significant improvement in targeted schools, well above national averages ii. The culture of high expectations now pervasive across the secondary phase was exemplified in the aspirational targets set by schools for 2009 and 2010 which were consistently above FFT “D” iii. Improvement in the schools’ most vulnerable schools (those with the highest proportion of children receiving Free School Meals) remained a priority and had seen significant improvement over the last 3 years iv. 2 of the 3 National Challenge Schools had performed above the 30% national threshold in 2008; 1 remained stable at 26%. Rotherham, therefore, had 1 school below the floor target
C. Strategic focus of School Effectiveness Service i. Targetted support for underachievement is co-ordinated across the School Effectiveness Service, Consultant Head Teachers and the nominated 3 lead consultancy schools ii. The School Improvement Partner (SIP) programme had sharpened school self-evaluation, increased school leadership capacity and toughened the focus on Standards and Achievement. Rotherham’s practice was judged to be Outstanding by the National Strategies iii. Programmes promoting the development of senior leadership capacity in the secondary Phase were an area of excellence receiving regional and national recognition iv. Core subject consultancy demonstrated significant impact in underperforming departments in 2008 especially in English and Science v. Partnership between schools andSES was unprecedentedly close, responsive and productive
The meeting discussed:-
- The increase in boys’ performance at 5+A*-C - The performance of pupils from a black and minority ethnic background - The overall profile of Rotherham schools from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 4 having moved closer to the national CVA profile with the majority of schools in 2008 being in line with ... view the full minutes text for item 49. |
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Organisation of School Terms 2010/11 Additional documents: Minutes: David Hill, Manager, School Organisation, Planning and Development, Resources and Access, submitted a report on the outcome of discussions with the Teaching Unions and the Education Advisory and Consultative Committee in relation to neighbouring authorities term dates and the Local Government Association’s recommendations for the school year 2010/2011.
The LGA had published guidance for the setting of term dates with the guiding principles of:-
- A return date for the school year as near as possible to the 1st September, 2010 (their proposed return date in 2010, however, was 6th September)
- Equalised teaching and learning blocks
- Establish a 2 week Spring Break in early April irrespective of incidence of the Easter Bank Holiday (their proposed Easter break in 2011, however, was the 3rd and 4th week in April)
- A summer holiday break of at least 6 weeks for those school which wanted this length of break
- A calendar based on 190 pupil days for 2010/11 and allowing the 5 INSET/CPD days to be set by the Head Teacher
Officers from the 4 South Yorkshire authorities had met to consider co-ordinated dates. Doncaster had approved the dates with Barnsley approving a minor variation which started back on the 6th September with 2 days taken from the Christmas break and 1 from the Easter break. Sheffield was still consulting on 2 different options: to have the same dates as approved by Doncaster or increasing the October half term break to 2 weeks with a reduction in the Summer Term to 4 weeks and 3 days.
The co-ordination of term dates as much as possible with neighbouring authorities was seen as a key issue for the Education Advisory and Consultative Committee; however the current different proposals did not allow this to happen. The Tommittee therefore recommended that the proposed dates which are the regionally approved dates for South Yorkshire were supported.
Rotherham’s proposed 2010/11 school terms were:-
Autumn Term Return to school 1st September, 2010 Half term w/c 25th October Return to school 1st November Christmas w/c 20th December
Spring Term Return to school 4th January, 2011 Half term w/c 21st February Return to school 28th February Easter w/c/ 11th April
Summer Term Return to school 26th April, 2011 Half term w/c 30th May Return to school 6th June Summer break w/c 25th July
Resolved:- That the term dates for 2010/11, as set out above, be approved. |
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14-19 Strategy including LSC Developments Additional documents:
Minutes: The Director of Learning Services submitted a report on the White Paper proposals set out in ‘Raising Expectations: enabling the system to deliver’ which developed further the intention announced in the Machinery of Government Changes (June 2007) to transfer the responsibility for the commissioning of 16-19 education from Learning and Skills Councils to Local Authorities.
The Legislation required local authorities to group together as formal clusters representing a ‘travel to learn’ area. The clusters needed to be in place by January, 2009, in order that they could undertaken from March, 2009, the proposed shadowing of the Learning and Skills Councils processes that would precede the transfer of 16-19 responsibilities in 2010/11.
The proposal for Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield local authorities to form the South Yorkshire Cluster was approved in November, 2008. The sub-regional group had now made a Stage 2 cluster submission outlining the governance and management arrangements.
The proposal would be assessed for readiness by the Regional Planning Forum which was made up of representatives from the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber, Yorkshire Forward, local authorities and the LSC. They would make recommendations to the Department for Children, Schools and Families and Department of Innovation University and Skills.
A sub-regional steering group and an operational group had been formed to prepare for the transfer. A detailed action plan with key dates and decision required would be drawn up and the steering group would report regularly to members and the Chief Executive.
Discussion ensued on the report with the following issues highlighted:-
- Consideration will be given to the funding allocation to each of the providers for the work they would be providing - The Authority would receive funding on the predicted increase in numbers of young people although it was known that a number of providers were offering places to young people over and above the predicted numbers. Representations were to be made to the national LSC on the shortfall of funding - Approval awaited from Government Office - Transfer of staff from the LSC - Fully operational by July, 2010
Resolved:- (1) That the report be received.
(2) That the shortfall of funding be raised at the forthcoming meeting with the 3 local Members of Parliament. |
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Petition - Home to School Transport - Newman School Minutes: The Democratic Services Manager reported receipt of a petition containing 6 signatures regarding the proposed changes to the current Home to School Transport arrangements for children and, in particular, with regard to the contract in respect of Ascot Cars.
In light of the Chair’s declaration of interest, this matter was referred to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services for consideration.
(Councillors Falvey and Rushforth declared personal interests in the above item) |
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Petition - Home to School Transport - Milton School Minutes: The Democratic Services Manager reported receipt of a petition containing 7 signatures regarding the proposed changes to the current Home to School Transport arrangements for children and, in particular, with regard to the contract in respect of Ascot Cars.
In light of the Chair’s declaration of interest, this matter was referred to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services for consideration.
(Councillors Falvey and Rushforth declared personal interests in the above item) |
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Date and Time of Next Meeting Tuesday, 14th April, 2009 at 10.30 a.m. Minutes: Resolved:- That the next meeting of the Cabinet Member for Lifelong Learning take place on Tuesday, 28th April, 2009, at 10.30 a.m. |