Agenda item

Consideration was given to the final report of the Scrutiny Review of Raising Achievements at Key Stage 3, undertaken by a review group from the Lifelong Learning Opportunities Scrutiny Panel, chaired by Steve Radford.

The Executive Summary of the report consisted of the following information:-

-                       Original Concerns – why Members wanted to look at this issue

-                       Terms of Reference

-                       Overview of Policy Framework

-                       Background

-                       Findings

-                       Examples of Good Practice

-                       Recommendations

-                       Thanks

-                       Information Sources/References

-                       Appendices

The overarching recommendation from this review is to continue the focus on improving teaching and learning.  In this way, Key Stage 3 will build on the foundations laid in the earlier key stages and prepare pupils for success at Key Stage 4.  It is felt to be of importance for education to get back to basics (e.g. through workforce reform), allowing teachers to return to teaching and ensuring that every child with the potential to reach level 5 does so.

This review endorses the KS3 Strategy and the KS3 team as valuable resources that have already done a great deal to raise the achievement of 11-14 year olds in Rotherham and have the potential to continue this improvement.

The Scrutiny Review group had identified the following key areas of impact on teaching and learning:-

·        Improvement in lesson structure

·        Improvement in pace and challenge in lessons

·        Increase in the variety of teaching strategies used in lessons

·        Increased focus on the learner

·        A widening of the debate about teaching and learning in secondary schools

Discussion ensued on the following issues and work of the review:-

-           National Key Stage 3 Strategy/Funded through the Standards Fund

      How this Strategy is rolled out in Rotherham Schools and increases the         pressure on teachers

-           The National KS3 Strategy has raised the profile of Key Stage 3

-           Attitudes of pupils – the view held by some students that qualifications were not necessary in order to gain employment

-           Standard Assessment Tests (SATS) – criticism of marking of the English tests in the past

-           Data management -  Rotherham LEA has purchased Fischer Family Trust data management system

-           Focus of teaching and learning is recognised as being at the centre of the curriculum

The Strategic Leader School Improvement welcomed the outcome of the Review and commented on how valuable it had been to Advisers.   In terms of the ‘turbulence’ factor, it was felt this should be looked at in terms of how often some children change schools, certainly at the end of Key Stage 1 to 2.  This had been a feature in the case of one school striving to meet DfES floor targets at GCSE.  On the issue of good leadership and management, this was a strong focus of the work within the Programme Area, and certainly of the School Improvement Service and Schools.

It was clarified that the delivery of the Key Stage 3 Strategy is funded from the Standards Fund.

On the issue of OFSTED training of consultants, there is a training budget and priority is given to training Advisers rather than Consultants, whose core business is evaluation and monitoring of schools. 

The meeting acknowledged the good work being carried out in schools and that schools were sharing good working practices.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Lifelong Learning Opportunities Scrutiny Panel endorses the report and its recommendations.

(2)          That the report be forwarded to the Corporate Management Team (CMT) to identify the cost/benefits of implementing the proposals and that CMT report its comments back to the Lifelong Learning Opportunities Scrutiny Panel by the end of April 2005.

(3)  That thanks be extended to all concerned in the work of the Review and, in particular, to Steve Radford for chairing the Review.

(4)  That the report be forwarded to Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee and then to Cabinet to determine what actions it wishes to take in light of the recommendations.

(5)         That a report is submitted to Lifelong Learning Opportunities Scrutiny Panel in six months time outlining progress on the issues raised.

(6)  That a copy of the final review report be sent to the KS3 co-ordinator at all of Rotherham’s secondary schools.