Archived decisions
Item 1
AT A MEETING of the EDUCATION POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of the HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 9 October 2001.
PRESENT:
M.J. Kendal (Chairman); J. Adam; Mrs S.E. Allbright; Mrs V. Assinder; Mrs A.E. Bailey; Mrs C. Barfoot; F.J. Bright; Mrs E.M. Byrom; M.F. Cartwright; Ms R. Clarke; B.D. Dash; Mrs P.M. Devereux; Mrs J.K. Frankum; J.K. Glen; Mrs D.R. Harrison; Mrs K. Heron; Ms P. Howe; Mrs M. Humber; Mrs R. Jenkins; S.W. Juniper; Jo Kelly; R. Kimber; Mrs P. Lerew; Revd. R.A. Lindley; Mrs A.M. McNair Scott; Mrs P.G. Peskett; G.W. Porter; Mrs P.A. West; B. Wright.
6. MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 18 September 2001 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
7. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
The Chairman reported with great regret the death of Revd. D.M. Turner's daughter, and it was agreed that a letter of sympathy should be sent to him. He went on to report the resignation of Mrs L. Hodges as one of the parent governor representatives; a by-election for the secondary parent governor constituency would be arranged. He further reported that Mr J.J. Dawson had been appointed as one of the persons experienced in or knowledgeable about education to serve on the Committee. He went on to report the appointment of the County Education Officer as Vice-President of the Society of Education Officers and added that he would then become President of the organisation in 2003; the Committee congratulated him on this achievement. In conclusion he referred to a letter of thanks from Swindon Borough Council in respect of the post-Ofsted secondment arrangements reported at the last meeting.
8. WHITE PAPER "SCHOOLS - ACHIEVING SUCCESS"
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 4 in the Minute Book); they also had before them a summary of the white paper (Item 4x in the Minute Book). The salient points made in respect of each chapter were as follows:
Chapter 2, Reform in Progress - Members felt that with the prescriptive nature of the national core curriculum there was little scope or capacity to add extra activities such as music, sports and languages.
Chapter 3, Achieving High Standards For All - There needed to be a better definition of gifted and talented children and a clearer explanation of the way in which any proposed academies would operate. Members generally felt that there should be broad, inclusive and properly funded strategies which would meet the needs of all children, ranging from those who were gifted or talented to those with special educational needs. They were opposed to legislating on the detail. The expertise of Beacon Schools should be used to disseminate best practice more widely and to encourage higher standards generally.
Chapter 4, Meeting Individual Talents and Aspirations at 14-19 - In Hampshire there would need to be greater liaison to overcome structural barriers when students went on from school to college at age16. Attention needed to be given to the needs of students in rural as well as urban areas, with support for integrated vocational as well as academic courses. Members felt there would need to be close cooperation between the Local Education Authority and the Learning and Skills Council to ensure the development of a wide range of opportunities for students of all abilities and aptitudes throughout the 14-19 age range; and recognition of the geography of Hampshire with its urban and rural mix.
Chapter 5, Excellence, Innovation and Diversity - Members expressed serious concerns at the proposals to allow successful schools to expand, and to change the role of the School Organisation Committee. They felt that unplanned expansion of some schools would be to the detriment of others, and regretted the fact that final decisions on new schools would no longer be taken locally. They considered that faith schools should be established only where there was local demand and clear agreement. With regard to both expanding schools and potential faith schools, there would be implications in terms of transport costs and environmental sustainability. Specialist schools, likely to increase in number, should not be exclusive but should spread their expertise and good practice more widely. Members felt that they should reassert their policy of securing the provision of inclusive comprehensive schools for pupils of all abilities, within their local community.
Chapter 6, Decisive Intervention to Ensure High Standards - Members felt that local education authorities were best placed to provide decisive intervention to secure improvement in failing schools. They had the ability to cope with problems whether those were school management or governance. Doubts were expressed at the introduction of interim executive boards since these moved away from local solutions. There needed to be a clearer definition of disadvantaged areas if this description was to be used to target money for pupil learning credits.
Chapter 7, Valuing and Supporting Teachers - General support for the approach in the white paper.
Chapter 8, Modernising Our Structures - Members expressed doubts at the practical implications of the Private Finance Initiative and felt that large local education authorities did not necessarily need to rely on private sector support. They felt that a School Forum would be unnecessarily prescriptive and that there should be local solutions to local problems.
RESOLVED:
1. That the County Education Officer drafts a response to the White Paper "Schools: Achieving Success" in the light of members' comments on points of principle and detail made during the course of debate and summarised above.
2. That the draft response be sent to all members of the Education Policy Review Committee for their individual comments.
3. That the final response amplified in the light of all observations received, be presented to the Chairman and the two political group spokesmen for their information and to the Executive Member for Education to agree the County Council's response and to forward it to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills.
9. DFES CONSULTATION PAPERS
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on arrangements for responses on five consultation papers recently issued by DFES. Observations on the individual consultation papers are set out in Minutes 10-14 below.
10. THE WAY FORWARD - A MODERNISED FRAMEWORK FOR SCHOOL GOVERNANCE (Appendix 1)
Members expressed particular concerns about the proposed removal of minor authority representatives from school governing bodies, since they were seen as vital for proper involvement of the local community. The Chairman reported receipt of a letter from Hampshire Association of Parish Councils expressing similar concerns with special reference to rural areas. Members also felt that further change to governing bodies would represent unnecessary disturbance and distraction at the present stage. In view of potential work loads for Governors, the proposals for grouped governing bodies were considered to be unrealistic. Reference would also be made in the response to temporary governing bodies; arrangements for governance of nursery schools - early years centres; and the respective roles of governing bodies and headteachers in staff appointments.
RESOLVED:
1. That the County Education Officer drafts a response to the consultation papers "The Way Forward - A Modernised Framework for School Governance" on the basis of the comments set out in Appendix 1, as amplified by the points of detail made during the course of debate and summarised above.
2. That the response be presented to the Executive Member for Education for approval, and to be forwarded to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills.
11. BETTER BEGINNINGS - EARLY YEARS EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE (Appendix 2)
The Committee agreed with the proposed answers to the questions and comments set out in the response at Appendix 2 and it was
RESOLVED:
1. That the County Education Officer finalises the draft response to the consultation paper "Better Beginnings: Improving Quality and Increasing Provision in Early Years Education and Child Care" on the basis set out in Appendix 2 and incorporating any further individual responses received.
2. That the response be presented to the Executive Member for Education for approval, and then to be forwarded to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills.
12. SCHOOL ADMISSIONS (Appendix 3)
Members felt that there was scope to clarify the role of the Admissions Forum, which had recently looked at the Government's proposed changes. The views of the Admissions Forum would be incorporated in the draft response to be prepared by the County Education Officer. Members felt that the concept of "parental preference" still needed clarification. They felt that the Local Education Authority should continue to play a vital coordinating role in respect of admissions policies and timescales.
RESOLVED:
1. That the County Education Officer drafts a response to the consultation paper "School Admissions" on the basis outlined in Appendix 3 and in the light of the points made during debate and summarised above.
2. That the draft response be forwarded to all members of the Education Policy Review Committee for their individual comments.
3. That the response be presented to the Executive Member for Education for approval, and then to be forwarded to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills.
13. EXCLUSION APPEALS PANELS (Appendix 4)
The Committee agreed the proposed responses set out in the first two sections of the consultation paper. They accepted some role for those with direct experience of classroom management on independent appeal panels for exclusions, but pointed out that it would be necessary to avoid conflict of interest, for example headteachers sitting on a panel for an exclusion appeal at a neighbouring school. No clear view emerged as to whether such people with direct experience of classroom management should be in a majority on independent appeal panels. With regard to the final question on fixed-term exclusions, members leant towards the view that, in the case of fixed-term exclusions beyond 10 days in any school term, parents should have the right to make observations to the governing body when they reviewed the exclusions. They felt that the limit of 15 days was too long a period to go without the right to make some form of representation.
RESOLVED:
1. That the County Education Officer drafts a response to the discussion paper "Exclusion Appeal Panels" on the basis of the points made during the course of debate and summarised above.
2. That the proposed response be sent to the members of the Education Policy Review Committee for individual comments.
3. That the response be presented to the Executive Member for Education for approval, and then to be forwarded to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills.
14. 16-19 ORGANISATION AND INSPECTION
RESOLVED:
1. That the County Education Officer drafts a response to the consultation paper "16-19 Organisation and Inspection".
2. That the draft response be sent to all members of the Education Policy Review Committee for individual comments.
3. That the response be presented to the Executive Member for Education for approval, and then to be forwarded to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills.
15. EXAMINATION RESULTS 2001
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the examination results achieved by Hampshire pupils in the last academic year.
RESOLVED:
1. That pupils, teachers and those who support them be congratulated for their continued hard work and achievement in national examinations and assessments.
2. That the Schools Monitoring Panel advises the Executive Member for Education on the progress of schools, based on more detailed analysis of the results.
16. EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
RESOLVED:
1. That, by virtue of paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the item referred to in Minute 17 below.
17. WORKFORCE PLAN UPDATE (CONFIDENTIAL)
The Committee considered a confidential report of the County Education Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) on progress with and amendments to the workforce plan for the Education Department.
RESOLVED:
1. That the achievement of Investor in People Accreditation for the Education Department be welcomed.
2. That the continuing unstable environment within which the Education Department provides strategic and support services and the need for a flexible organisation structure with tight financial control be noted.
3. That the Executive Member for Education be invited to approve this report.
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