Agenda item

Karen Borthwick, Assistant Director of Education and Skills, presented an overview of the educational outcomes of children and young people in primary and secondary schools for the academic year ending in the summer of 2015.

Pupil outcomes in Rotherham had increased year on year in many areas.  Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 outcomes were still below the national average for a number of Indicators, however, the gap to the national average had reduced significantly.  Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 4 outcomes had exceeded the national average for a number of years.

The report set out further information under the headings of:-

-          Early Years Foundation Profile – Gender, Free School Meals

-          Early Years: Key Priorities

-          Key Stage 1 – Phonics, Gender, Pupil Premium. Assessments

-          Key Stage 2

-          Key Stage 4

Discussion ensued with the following issues raised/clarified:-

·           It would be possible to ascertain the benefits (if any) of children receiving free school meals with regard to their performance in examinations due to the children in Key Stage 1 currently receiving the meals.  There was no current evidence to support this issue

·           Rotherham mirrored the national patterns of different performance for boys and girls (with girls outperforming boys). The report was generic and covered the whole of the Borough of which there were some areas of outstanding performance.  The challenge that all schools faced was ensuring that both genders achieved well and were excited by learning. Schools were aware of the issues and had action plans in place.  There was evidence of where specific action had taken place improvements had been made

·           The responsibility for careers education and the guidance element of the curriculum rested very much with the school.  It was important that the school developed appropriate information and guidance for young people, raising their aspirations and making it clear about the pathways into apprenticeships, vocational work or onto further learning and employment.  The Local Authority was very much focussed on developing enterprise and also linkages with employers.  It worked as part of the Sheffield City Region developing links between schools and employers with the aim that all schools would have a link to an employer

There had been a good response across the whole City Region but specifically in Rotherham with some of the first schools picking up that opportunity where the school would be linked with an employer so that employer could engage with the school in terms of the education offer and information, advice and guidance.  It also gave a real insight into the Labour Market Information about the growing opportunities for young people within the labour market.  Special schools had also taken up the opportunity and this was starting to influence some of the employers about their attitude to working with and offering employment opportunities to children with SEND

·           The Local Authority was aiming to ensure that schools had an opportunity to meet with employers on a fairly regular basis to share information about the emerging curriculum and making sure that it had relevance to the local economy and the economy of the future within Rotherham

·           It was essential that a Local Authority had good relationships with schools and academies in order to undertake its Safeguarding responsibilities and to ensure that there was a vibrant successful learning environment across the Borough

·           The Authority’s performance at KS2 was significantly better than it had been.  Over the past five years the performance had improved greatly in terms of comparison with the rest of Yorkshire and the Humber and nationally.  The gap on national performance had been closed considerably and the outcomes improved for children and young people

·           Overall performance in the early years indicated that children were making good progress.  It would be difficult to make comparisons next year due to the criteria for assessment changing

·           The number of schools that were falling below the floor (the basic level which the Government said schools should reach) had declined, therefore, the quality of education across the Borough had improved

·           The report was a general overview of performance across the Borough.  A separate more detailed report would be required for specific  performance of children from BAME groups

·           All schools were expected to track the outcomes of Pupil Premium (PP) and include such on their website.  There was evidence of good practice with PP and a review group had been established with the more successful to share the good practice

·           It was a huge challenge for schools in ensuring consistency of progress/monitoring of children.  Central Government had moved away from the very centralised and organised approach with levels and national curriculum. The local authority was no longer in a position to dictate the use of assessment techniques or how schools collected or recorded.  Work took place with schools and academies to share good practice but it was for them to make those decisions

It was suggested that a meeting take place to consider the new assessment framework which would be implemented this year in detail, possibly with some Head Teachers, as this would probably be their biggest challenge looking to understanding what the new assessment framework would look like, how their performance would look and how their performance would be measured and recorded

·           Initial Inspection judgements were confidential but as soon as they were in the public arena there would be no difficulty in including Ward Members into the notification.  The number of inspections this year had been much lower than  previously 

·           The White Paper set out an aspiration that local authorities would not have the responsibility for running schools;  responsibilities for school place planning, supporting the most vulnerable children and being a champion for Children and Young People and Families would remain.  It would be useful to look at the White Paper and its implications.  A number of local authority areas had expressed concern about being able to deliver some of the expectations contained within e.g. ensuring the right number of school places for children in the right places.

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

(2)  That a meeting be scheduled to consider the implication of the White Paper for the Borough as part of the Scrutiny work programme.