Agenda item

(Report by Mr M Whiting, Cabinet Member, Education, Learning and Skills and Mr P Leeson, Corporate Director, Education, Learning and Skills)

(Mrs D Robinson, Principle adviser Special and PRU was present for this item)

1.               The Chairman invited the Corporate Director, Mr Leeson to introduce the report.  Mr Leeson highlighted the following:-

·       There were 19 schools in a category of concern either in special measurers or with serious weaknesses (3% of all school).  Nationally the current number of schools in an Ofsted category was 3%.  This figure was being reduced over time.

·       There was a steady improvement in the numbers of early years settings judged good or outstanding by Ofsted to 87% to 82% in 2011. 

·       Overall there had also been an increase in the number of schools judged good or outstanding by Ofsted from 57% to 62% overall.  The national average for all schools as 70%.

·       Presently, 73% of Secondary school in Kent and nearly al Special Schools were good or outstanding.  59% of Primary schools were good or outstanding.  The Kent Primary Schools was still below the national average which was 69% and the Kent Secondary Schools were above the national average which was 66%.

·       Ofsted published its annual report in the Autumn which included a league table on the percentage of primary pupils attending a good or outstanding school.  In Kent there were 55% of pupils attending a good or outstanding school [This was based on pupil numbers].  The league table put Kent 10^th from the bottom.  There needed to be rapid improvement. 45% of pupils not attending a good or outstanding school in Kent was over 55,000 children of primary age.

·       There were positive indications that schools inspections outcomes were improving. There were 45 inspections since the beginning of 2012 school year, 30 schools (66%) were rated as good or outstanding and among those 25 schools (55%) improved from a previous satisfactory judgement.

2.               Members were given the opportunity to make comments and ask questions which included the following:

a)         In reply to a question, Mrs Robinson advised that the academy solution was part of a set of options that would be considered for a school that required a serious remedy to significant underperformance.  Academy status gave options including the ability to compose the staffing in a different way and the requirement not to have to conform to the national curriculum.  Mr Leeson added that if a school failed its Ofsted inspection the Government’s policy was that it was required to be sponsored as an academy in order to give it greater leadership and governance capacity.  This had applied to twelve schools in Kent. The County Council would have no say on this matter.

b)         Members were pleased to note that there were improvements following the Ofsted inspections.

c)          Following a request, Mr Leeson agreed to provide a breakdown of the 25 schools; Primary and Secondary that had improved from a previous satisfactory judgement to Members outside the meeting.

d)         A suggestion was made that Kent’s statistical neighbours should be used as comparators and well as national comparisons.   

3.               RESOLVED that:-

a)              the responses to comments and questions by Member be noted; and

b)              the progress achieved to date in improving school results and Ofsted inspection outcomes be noted.