Agenda item

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which provides Members with two reports entitled, ‘Termly Update on Ofsted Inspections and Schools Causing Concern (Primary)’ and ‘Termly Report on Standards in Leeds High Schools and Update on Ofsted Inspections and Schools Causing Concern’ from the Chief Executive of Education Leeds which were submitted to Executive Board for consideration in August 2007

A report was submitted by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which introduced two reports from Education Leeds entitled, ‘Termly Update on Ofsted Inspections and Schools Causing Concern (Primary)’ and ‘Termly Report on Standards in Leeds High Schools and Update on Ofsted Inspections and Schools Causing Concern’, both of which had recently been submitted to Executive Board for consideration.

Dirk Gilleard, Deputy Chief Executive, and Dorothy Smith, Strategic Manager, School Improvement Team, both of Education Leeds, were in attendance to answer Members’ questions.

Having received a brief overview of the key issues detailed within both reports, a discussion then ensued. The main areas of debate were as follows:-

Staffing Matters

·  Members were reminded that a working group was considering the current situation in relation to Fountain Primary School and would be reporting back to the full Board shortly;

·  In response to the Board’s enquiries which related to staff who were not qualified teachers, Members were advised of the actions taken to ensure that the work undertaken by such staff met all relevant standards, and that often a Teaching Assistant qualification was used as a stepping stone towards a teaching qualification;

·  The Board discussed the level and focus of the support being offered by Education Leeds to South Leeds High School;

·  Members discussed  the actions being taken to ensure that the level of qualified and experienced staff in such challenging environments as the Behaviour, Emotional and Social Difficulties Specialist Inclusive Learning Centre (BESD SILC) was being maintained. They enquired about the role and number of Higher Level Teaching Assistants(HLTAs) at the BESD SILC. The Strategic Manager, School Improvement Team, undertook to check the balance of teaching staff within the SILC and report this information back to Board Members.

General Observations

·  The Board discussed the grades achieved by those schools which had been recently inspected, and sought further information on the financial cost of supporting vulnerable schools in Leeds. In response, the Deputy Chief Executive of Education Leeds indicated that the cost would be the base budget of the School Improvement Service and undertook to provide Members with specific details;

·  In response to Members’ enquiries relating to the partnerships which existed between schools in Leeds, the Board noted the number of partnerships which were currently in operation at both Primary and Secondary level, the average duration of such partnerships and how the performance of those schools involved in such partnerships was monitored;

·  Members emphasised the need for continued monitoring of Ofsted’s inspection procedure.

Following consideration of Annex 2 and related addenda to both reports, designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(1) and 10.4(2), which were considered in private, it was

RESOLVED –

(a). That the report and information appended to the report be noted;

(b). That the information requested by the Board be forwarded to Members for consideration.

(Councillor Renshaw left the meeting at 12.06 p.m. during the consideration of this item, Councillors Lamb and Lancaster both left the meeting at 12.28 p.m., also during the consideration of this item, and Ms C Foote left the meeting at 12.30 p.m., at the conclusion of this item)