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.