Agenda item

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on the recent Ofsted inspection results.

Annex 2 – Primary Schools in Extended Partnerships and Annex 3 – Secondary Schools in Extended Partnerships, have been designated exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4 (1) (2).

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report, which provided details of recent Ofsted Inspection results.  Appended to the report was the following information:-

• Annual Standards Report – Primary
• Annex 1:  Ofsted inspection summaries
• Annex 2:  Primary schools in extended partnerships

• Annual Standards Report – Secondary
• Annex 1: Overview of 2007 performance at KS3 and KS4
• Annex 2:  Ofsted inspection summaries
• Annex 3:  Secondary schools in extended partnerships.

The following witnesses were in attendance:-

• Christine Halsall, Principal Advisor – Primary and Secondary
• Christine Pollard, Director, National Strategies
• Councillor R Harker, Executive Member (Learning)

Some of the main issues discussed were as follows:

• Foundation Stage - The Board was advised that there had been an improvement in outcomes by 2 percentage points compared to 0.5 percentage points nationally.

• Key Stage 2 - The Board considered improvements at Key Stage 2, although it was noted that performance in Maths had fallen.

• BME Groups – It was reported that outcomes for some BME groups had improved, although some groups had fallen below average.

• School Leadership -  It was reported that a sustainable leadership programme had been established for new headteachers.

In relation to Primary schools, the following points were raised:-

• Members asked about the strategies adopted by Education Leeds in response to children who left primary school unable to read and write to an appropriate standard.
• The Board also expressed concern about the level of turnover among headteachers. It was reported that this was a national problem arising from the age profile of staff. They also noted some of the strategies being adopted in Leeds to encourage new candidates to come forward, or to move to the city.
• The Board discussed the issue of establishing a baseline of children’s abilities when they enter the education system. Given the difficulties in defining a suitable measure, the Board agreed to return to this issue in more detail as part of their ongoing work on education standards.

In relation to Secondary schools, the following points were made:-

• The Board was advised that the main areas of concern related to vulnerable groups and improving levels of attendance.  (The Director, National Strategies pointed out that 18 schools reported 10% or more pupils that attended school less than 80% of the time). 
• The Board was informed that the Gipsy, Roma and Traveller education support service was being realigned to bring it alongside school improvement service. It was intended that this would spread the existing expertise more widely across the education service.
• Members asked about support to working parents in relation to twilight sessions for excluded pupils. It was agreed that further information would be provided to Members.

(Ms T Kayani left the meeting at 12.30 pm during the consideration of this item)

RESOLVED – That the attached reports and appendices be noted, and that the successes detailed in the reports be welcomed.