Archived decisions

Contact: John Clarke, Assistant County Education Officer, Standards and Improvement Branch, County Office. Tel: 01962 646459

1. Summary

1.1. This paper sets out proposals for the terms of reference for the Panel and proposes an increase in the frequency of meetings to take account of the recommendations of the Ofsted inspection of the LEA and the increased business which will ensue.

2. Background

2.1. The Ofsted inspection report of the LEA (May 2001) recommended that elected members be given more information in relation to the overall performance of schools in Hampshire. The purpose is to make sure that they have sufficient data to equip them better to fulfil their role in terms of the strategic oversight of schools and the work of the Education Department.

2.2. The change in status of the Schools Monitoring Sub-Committee to the Schools Monitoring Panel, which advises the Executive Member for Education, provides an opportunity to implement the Ofsted recommendation.

2.3. It is proposed to do this by amending the terms of reference of the panel and by increasing the frequency of its meetings.

3. The Proposed Changes

3.1. The proposed changes seek to broaden the work of the Panel so that it receives more information relating to the performance of all schools in the county. Included in that information will be an annual analysis of the LEA profile; detailed analyses of test and examination data; analyses of schools' targets and their progress towards meeting them; and the results of the annual categorisation process including an analysis of any additional work done by the Education Department in particular schools. The consideration of reports setting out the results of these analyses will form part of the Panel's work in future in addition to consideration of the progress of schools of concern within the county.

3.2. The Ofsted inspection also suggested that more and better evaluation of the Education Development Plan should be undertaken. It is proposed to bring the results of the monitoring and evaluation of the second EDP to this Panel.

The proposed terms of reference are:

i) To review the situation at schools identified as having serious weaknesses or being in need of special measures; to consider the circumstances leading to any such schools being so designated; to assess the Action Plan for overcoming the schools' deficiencies; to monitor progress and to make recommendations as appropriate.


ii) To review the possible appointment of additional governors and/or the suspension of a school's right to a delegated budget and to make recommendations as appropriate.


iii) To monitor the performance of schools generally; to assess performance data on schools' standards and results; to consider ways in which schools may further improve their performance and the support being provided by the Education Department towards that end and to make recommendations as appropriate.


iv) To monitor and evaluate the progress of the Education Development Plan 2002-2007.

The council has far fewer schools in special measures and with serious weaknesses than previously and, consequently, less of the Panel's time will be spent on schools of this type. However, the increase in the volume of business that will be brought about because of the broadening of the terms of reference, means that it is sensible to increase the number of meetings of the Panel each year from three to four. It is suggested that the changes take effect from January 1 2002.

Recommendations

The Panel is asked to:

1 accept the changes to the terms of reference

2 agree the increase in the number of meetings of the Panel, each year, from three to four.

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

N.B. The list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

None