Agenda item

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

(Mrs S Rogers, Director, Education Quality and Standards was present for this Item)

1.               The Chairman invited Mrs Rogers to introduce the report.  Mrs Rogers highlighted that in parallel to the development of the ELS Scorecard, work had been undertaken to produce twelve District Scorecards which were consulted on through the last two meetings of the District Headteachers.  This had been helpful to Headteachers in understanding their District and creating valuable collaborations.

2.               Mr Leeson explained that this report included all of the Bold Steps Targets that were in the Strategic Plans for Education Learning and Skills in which to monitor progress.

3.               Members raised the following points:-

a)    A Member raised the following concerns and asked questions on the indicators with red RAG status including; (1) the large number of areas with persistently absent primary and secondary pupils, (2) Was CAM involved in the percentage of statements of Special Education Needs being issued in the correct timescale? (3) There were no statistical neighbouring averages or national averages quoted and (4) Were resources being directed to pupils from ethnic minorities with no English, in particular,  Dartford and Gravesham? 

b)    In response to (1), Mrs Rogers advised that the Head of Inclusion was looking at this carefully and ensuring that resources are directed to those particularly red areas.   In the collaboration plans received, a number of collaboratives had highlighted attendance as a major area for development as a group of school to identify what they could do together to improve the situation.

c)     In response to (2) Mrs Rogers advised that the newly appointed Head of SEN, Julie Ely, submitted a report to the Performance Evaluation Board that looked at the issue of Kent not receiving statements within the 26 weeks as it should.    One of the reasons for the delay in the preparation of the Statements was the involvement of Health in the production of the Statements.  Discussions with Health would need to take place to overcome this.  It was a top priority to resolve the delay.

d)    In reply to (3) Mrs Rogers explained that the national indicator on Ofsted category was nationally 2.6-2.7% and Kent was above the national average at 3.4-3.5%.  There was no comparison with the neighbouring authorities but there had been an increase across the country generally of schools going into an Ofsted category.   Mrs Rogers agreed to submit this information to a future meeting.

e)    In reply to (4) Mrs Rogers advised that My Child at School (MCAS), a bought back service, would need to look at how much time they were supporting the schools in Dartford and Gravesham.  Some schools with high levels of English as an Additional Language (EAL) were often performing well and it was not the EAL groups that were causing significant problems it was often other vulnerable groups in the school.

f)      A Member commented that it was good to see the links that had been made with education and employability in the education report.

4.               RESOLVED that the responses to comments and questions by Members and the current performance indicated in the ELS performance management framework be noted.