Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the SCHOOLS MONITORING PANEL held at The Castle, Winchester on Tuesday 23 October 2001.
PRESENT:
Councillors: J.K. Glen (Chairman); Carol Boulton; M.F. Cartwright; B.D. Dash; Mrs P.M. Devereux; R. Kimber; Mrs A.M. McNair Scott; Mrs E.M.F. Randall;
J.W. Stocks; J.G.L. Wall.
Co-opted Members:
P. Gilliat; D. Belfield
The Chairman welcomed Members to the reconstituted Panel under the County Council's new democratic structure. He also reported that John Clarke, Assistant County Education Officer, had been seconded to help Swindon Borough Council following the publication of their Ofsted report. The secondment was on a part time basis expected to last until Easter 2002.
1. MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on Friday 13 July 2001 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
Arising thereon:
Minute 187 - Brockenhurst C.E. (Controlled) Primary School - it was noted that the HMI's final report on the school's progress had been circulated with the agenda papers.
2. RECOMMENDED AMENDED TERMS OF REFERENCE AND FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS
The Panel considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 2 in the Minute Book) setting out proposed terms of reference for the Panel and recommending an increase in the frequency of meetings to take account of the recommendations of the Ofsted inspection of the Local Education Authority.
The Panel noted that there would be an increase in the volume of business because of the broadening of the terms of reference. More information relating to the performance of all schools in the County would be submitted to the Panel, including an annual analysis of the Local Education Authority profile; detailed analyses of test and examination data; analyses of schools' targets and their progress towards meeting them; the results of the annual categorisation process and in addition an annual progress report on schools previously identified with serious weaknesses or in special measures.
RESOLVED:
That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Education and the County Council that:
(i) the changes to the terms of reference be approved;
(ii) the number of meetings of the Panel be increased from 3 to 4 a year
commencing January 2002.
3. PROGRESS TOWARDS 2002 TARGETS FOR 11 YEAR OLDS IN ENGLISH AND MATHEMATICS AND THE 2001 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
The Panel considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 3 in the Minute Book) detailing progress towards 2002 targets for 11 year olds in English and Maths and the 2001 results and analysis.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the report be noted.
(ii) That the actions taken by the English and Mathematics teams be endorsed.
(iii) That further reports on progress be submitted to the Panel.
4. REVISED PROCESSES FOR CATEGORISING SCHOOLS BY THEIR QUALITY
The Panel considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 4 in the Minute Book) setting out changes to the system for categorising schools by their quality.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the report be noted.
(ii) That a seminar on the revised categorisation procedures be arranged for Members of the Panel and other interested Members by mid-January 2002.
5. EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
RESOLVED:
That, by virtue of paragraphs 1, 7, 11 and 13 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 items referred to in Minutes 6 to 12 below.
6. EGGAR'S SECONDARY SCHOOL, ALTON (CONFIDENTIAL)
The Panel considered a confidential report of the County Education Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) providing an update on developments at this school.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the report be noted.
(ii) That a further report on progress be submitted to the Panel.
(iii) That Phil Dickinson, Area School Improvement Manager, be thanked for his help and support to the school.
7. BRIDGEMARY COMMUNITY SCHOOL, GOSPORT (CONFIDENTIAL)
The Panel considered a confidential report of the County Education Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) providing an update on developments at this school.
RESOLVED:
(i) That support continue to be provided to the school throughout the remainder of the 2001/02 financial year and possibly the 2002/03 financial year.
(ii) That a further report on progress made by the school be submitted to the Panel.
(iii) That the headteacher, staff and governing body of Bridgemary Community School, Gosport be congratulated on their achievements in improving standards of teaching.
8. WOODLANDS EDUCATION CENTRE (CONFIDENTIAL)
The Panel considered a confidential report of the County Education Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) providing an update on developments at this Centre.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the report be noted.
(ii) That Ann Begley, Area School Improvement Manager, be thanked for her work in support of the Centre.
(iii) That a further report on progress made by the Centre be submitted to the Panel.
(iv) That Members of the Panel be invited to the official opening of the new building at the site.
9. SUMMARY OF SCHOOLS WITH SERIOUS WEAKNESSES OR IN SPECIAL MEASURES (CONFIDENTIAL)
The Panel considered a confidential report of the County Education Officer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) detailing all remaining schools in the County with serious weaknesses or in special measures.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the report be noted.
(ii) That further reports on the schools be submitted to the Panel.
10. PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL, ALDERSHOT (CONFIDENTIAL)
The Panel considered a confidential report of the County Education Officer (Item 10 in the Minute Book) on progress made by this school.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the report be noted.
(ii) That a further report on progress made by the school be submitted to the Panel.
11. ST. JOHN'S C.E. PRIMARY SCHOOL, BASINGSTOKE (CONFIDENTIAL)
The Panel considered a confidential report of the County Education Officer (Item 11 in the Minute Book) on progress made by this school. It was reported that, following a further visit by HMI, it had been decided that the school was no longer subject to special measures. The Panel paid tribute to the partnership working which had helped to achieve this very satisfactory outcome.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the report be noted.
(ii) That the headteacher, staff and governing body be congratulated on the school's achievement.
(iii) That the Winchester Diocese be thanked for their partnership in supporting and challenging the school.
(iv) That the attached inspector be commended for her work.
12. NEWPORT JUNIOR SCHOOL, ALDERSHOT (CONFIDENTIAL)
The Panel considered a confidential report of the County Education Officer (Item 12 in the Minute Book) on progress made by this school. It was reported that, following a further visit by HMI, it had been decided that the school was no longer subject to special measures. The Panel paid tribute to the partnership working which had helped to achieve this very satisfactory outcome.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the report be noted.
(ii) That the headteacher, staff and governing body be congratulated on the school's achievement in being judged no longer to be in need of special measures.
(iii) That the attached inspector and the governing body adviser be commended for their work.
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