Agenda item

The Sub Committee will receive a report detailing the contents of the latest report by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools (HMCI) in respect of Havering schools’ performance and the Council’s response to the findings in the report.

This report had been prepared by the Interim Head of Education Services but she was unable to attend and she had sent her apologies.

HMCI had published his Annual Report of education, early years and skills for 2015/16 on 1 December 2016. The report highlighted the outcomes of a range of Ofsted performance measures in primary and secondary schools across the country. Each Regional Director had published a report covering performance in their geographical patch. The report concentrated on the regional data.

The Ofsted report referred, inter alia, to three specific measures in the secondary sector:

       i.          Progress 8 (a new measure);

      ii.          Attainment 8 (a new measure); and

    iii.          Percentage of pupils in good or outstanding schools.

The extracts below from the London regional information pack set out Havering’s position on these measures.

·         In both the new Progress 8 and Attainment 8 measures, London was the strongest region nationally in 2016.  London’s overall Progress 8 score was 0.16 (national -0.03) and the Attainment 8 score was 51.7 (national 49.9).  Only three local authorities in London achieved Progress 8 scores below the national average: Bexley, Havering and Lewisham.

·         Progress 8 scores in Havering and Lewisham were the lowest of all London boroughs and well below the national figure, both at -0.14.  The proportion of pupils achieving five GCSEs at grades A* to C, including English and mathematics, had also fallen in these two boroughs, compared with the provisional 2015 figures.  On 31 August 2016, only 54% of secondary pupils in Lewisham were in a school graded good or outstanding; in Havering, only 57% of secondary pupils attended schools judged good or better.

·          

Officers advised that the key issues were in Maths, Sciences and Modern Languages. Data showed that the brightest children from the most deprived areas do badly.

With regard to the primary sector in London, there was no direct reference to Havering. In the regional information pack the percentage of pupils in good or outstanding schools showed Havering at 132 out of 152 authorities (the lowest performer in London).

Officers advised that the problems in Secondary Schools were more systemic with schools failing to maintain the progress pupils had demonstrated in primary schools.

Prior to the publication of the report officers had requested a discussion with the Regional Schools Commissioner for the area about the development of a joint improvement strategy for tackling under-performance in the secondary sector. As a result of this discussion an independently chaired Improvement Board had been established to oversee the agreed improvement strategy. Dame Joan McVittie had been appointed Chair and the first meeting held on 20th January. There had been good attendance from Head Teachers and Chairs of Governors across the secondary sector with all 18 secondary schools being represented.

A draft action had just been received and was yet to be considered by officers. The Council had a key role to play to use our influence and provide support. The Regional Commissioner had indicated that funds would be available to fund school improvement and when further details were available a bid would be submitted.

Officers were also working with the primary sector looking to develop a more robust approach towards leadership and governance. Officers had already issued a formal notice to improve on one school.

Ofsted expect to see progress from previous years therefore a good performing school can struggle if progress is not made. The Council need to work with Primary Schools encouraging them to join the right MAT to ensure progress.

The Sub-Committee requested that the Improvement Plan and Outcomes be submitted to the next meeting together with details of progress in meeting the targets. An invitation should be extended to the Regional Schools Commissioner to attend a future meeting of the Sub-Committee prior to which a pre meeting should be held to decide what questions to ask.

Officers advised that the Chief Executive, leader of the Council and Lead member would be meeting the Regional Schools Commissioner.

The Council would look to some MAT’s applying for Improvement Funding on behalf of all schools.

The Sub-Committee were advised that the funding formula was changing and the Council would need to look for ways to lever in additional funding. Officers advised that Traded Services had made a small profit which had been reinvested in the service.

The Sub-Committee noted the report.