Archived decisions
ITEM 2
AT A MEETING of the EDUCATION POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of the HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 2 December 2003.
PRESENT:
M.J. Kendal (Chairman); Mrs V. Assinder; Mrs A.E. Bailey; I.F.E. Beagley;
D.J. Belfield; Carol Boulton; F.J. Bright; Mrs E.M. Byrom; M.F. Cartwright;
K.G. Chapman; Ms P. Clarke; Ms R. Clarke; T. Coupland; B.D. Dash; J.J. Dawson;
Mrs P.M. Devereux; R.J. Ellis; Mrs R. Jenkins; Jo Kelly; Mrs. K. Heron; S.W. Juniper; R. Kimber; Mrs C.A. Leversha; Rev. R. Lindley; D. Mayer; D. Mewes; G.W. Porter; Mrs E.M.F. Randall; J.W. Stocks; Revd. D.M. Turner; J.G.L. Wall; Mrs P.A. West; D. White; D.F. Wright.
144 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of the debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed. On Item 9 (Minute 152) Councillor Mrs Randall declared a personal interest as a Governor of Testwood School. On Item 14 (Minute 157) Councillor Boulton declared a personal interest on the grounds that her business provided work experience for excluded young people. The Chief Executive confirmed that these interests did not amount to personal prejudicial interests and that the Members concerned could remain in the meeting whilst these items were discussed.
145 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 14 October 2003 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
146 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
The Chairman reported the absence, through illness, of the Executive Member for Education, Councillor Don Allen, and expressed the hope that he would be well enough to attend for his decision day on 4 December. He referred to the visits to primary schools in the East New Forest area arranged for 11 December, and reminded members once again of the protocol to follow during these visits and the need to avoid giving any impression that they had made up their minds as to outcomes in any particular case. He reminded members that their next meeting on 20 January 2004 would begin at 1.30 p.m. rather than the usual 2.15 p.m.
147 DEPUTATIONS
There were no deputations notified on this occasion.
148 HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL STRATEGY FOR EDUCATION
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on the outcome of consultations about the draft Hampshire County Council Strategy for Education, prior to the document being submitted to Cabinet for adoption. Members generally felt that the report and its appendix set out a good concise summary of the County Council's duties as Local Education Authority. They made a number of minor corrections on points of detail and suggested that consideration might be given to referring specifically to the roles of Colleges; the Youth Offending Team; and the Churches as partners with the County Council in delivering educational services. Reference was also made to the importance of achievements in the field of arts and sports and the contribution these made to learning and personal development. The County Education Officer undertook to respond to a question as to whether there was an obligation on housing associations to have in place a learning plan for elderly residents.
RESOLVED:
That, subject to minor points of detail or amplification, the draft Hampshire County Council Strategy for Education (incorporating comments as a result of consultation) be endorsed and that the Executive Member for Education be requested to take a revised version to Cabinet and to full County Council for adoption as the Hampshire County Council's Strategy for Education.
149 DRAFT LOCAL EDUCATION AUTHORITY COMPACT WITH DfES
The Committee considered the report of the County Education Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) seeking approval to the compact as a statement of intent between Hampshire County Council as LEA and the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), with the aim of improving working practices and relationships to the benefit of schools. Reference was made to the significant role played by the County Education Officer, Andrew Seber, as president of the Confederation of Education Service Managers (ConfEd) this year: he had been able to take the opportunity to ensure that the draft compact fully reflected the aims and aspirations of Local Education Authorities, working in partnership with the DfES. Some concerns were expressed about the school-based year 4 assessments, and it was confirmed that these were entirely optional. Other points raised by members were the need to ensure that new initiatives were appropriate and effective; and the suggestion that the health and physical well-being of pupils and students might be mentioned in the documents.
RESOLVED:
That the draft Compact between the Local Education Authority and the DFES, amended to cover points of detail and suggestions made in the meeting, be commended to the Executive Member for Education and that he be invited to agree the final version of the Compact, for adoption as Hampshire's Compact with the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).
150 THE PERFORMANCE OF HAMPSHIRE SCHOOLS 2002/2003
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on the results achieved by Hampshire pupils in tests and examinations and on Hampshire's performance when compared with national averages and other counties comparable to Hampshire (statistical neighbours). Members generally endorsed the conclusions which emerged from a recent meeting with DfES, that there was much to commend in the performance of Hampshire's Schools, but that there still remain some areas with scope for improvement. More details, including value added, would be the subject of reports to the Schools Monitoring Panel in due course.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the achievements and commitment to improvement of schools and those who support them be commended.
(ii) That the report be distributed to all Hampshire Headteachers and Governing Bodies.
151 SCHOOL TRANSPORT PLANS AND SAFER ROUTE TO SCHOOL
The Committee considered the report of the County Education Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) on the support provided by the County Council to assist schools in producing travel plans and its investment in safe routes to schools, following recent requests from the Environment Policy Review Committee. Members' main concerns were on the financial implications, having particular regard to the unreliability of DfES funding. There was also a workload implication for schools.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the increased level of funding from Government to support the development of school travel plans be noted.
(ii) That Councillors Jo Kelly, R. Kimber and J.G.L. Wall be nominated to meet the three Members of the Environment Policy Review Committee to discuss the issues identified by that Committee and in this report.
152 "BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE FUTURE" - A PROPOSED COUNTY COUNCIL RESPONSE
The Committee considered the report of the County Education Officer, Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services and County Treasurer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on proposals to make expressions of interest to the DfES on projects which might be included in its capital strategy for schools for pupils of secondary age.
Members reiterated their concerns that the criteria being used by the DfES to set priorities: high deprivation measured by the incidence of free school meals, and low GCSE performance - were unlikely to favour Hampshire schools and the new system was therefore likely to be detrimental. The approach also led to centralisation of decision making. However, members welcomed the Government funding available and recognised that there were many areas where school buildings were in a vastly worse condition than those in Hampshire. Nevertheless they pointed out that, even in an area like Hampshire which was not disadvantaged in relative terms, there were school buildings reaching the end of their useful lives and where refurbishment or replacement over the next few years would be essential. Members considered that Asset Management Plans provided a clear and transparent way of evaluating the needs of secondary school buildings, and that an authority like Hampshire was able to achieve economies of scale and package building programmes so that the necessary improvements could be made cost effectively.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the Executive Member for Education be advised that the Committee supports the content of the proposed expression of interest to the DfES under the Building Schools for the future initiative, as set out in paragraphs 7.3, 7.4 and 7.6 of the submitted report.
(ii) That the Executive Member for Education be requested to pursue with the DfES means of overcoming the problems of repairs/remodelling/ replacement of old secondary school buildings which do not qualify under the DfES deprivation criteria and where there are no issues of poor GCSE performance.
(iii) That the DfES be urged to show flexibility whereby the approach of Asset Management Plans can still be used to complement the new DfES criteria, to enable authorities like Hampshire to deploy resources and programmes effectively to schools with identified building needs.
(iv) That the DfES be advised that packaging resources at local level may be a more practical and cost effective way of refurbishing secondary school buildings than use of PFI schemes as proposed.
153 BUDGET MONITORING 2003/04
The Committee considered a report of the County Treasurer and County Education Officer (Item 10 in the Minute Book) monitoring progress with the Education Revenue Budget for the current year. Members were pleased to note that the expected overspending had been reduced from £2.4M to £1.4M over the past few weeks, by means of a combination of management action, postponement of staff appointments and use of standards fund grants.
RESOLVED:
That the revised cash limit of £642,785M and the forecast overspend be noted on the basis set out in the submitted report.
154 REVENUE BUDGET OUTLOOK FOR 2004/05
The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer and County Education Officer (Item 11 in the Minute Book) on the financial outlook for 2004/05. In addition to the papers circulated, they also had before them as appendix 2 the document submitted to the Schools Forum on transitional support for schools in financial difficulty. The County Treasurer gave a full explanation of the way in which the DfES proposed the transitional grant should be deployed by local authorities to schools. Members found the situation extremely complicated and expressed their concern that money allocated to write off schools' debts incurred as a result of funding problems earlier in the year, might in fact write off debts which had arisen for other reasons. However, Members accepted that there might be some inequities in the formula for distribution, but that the vital aspect for Hampshire was to secure the money available for schools. Reference was made to a letter from The Connaught School about alleged underfunding, and it was explained that all Hampshire Schools had been properly funded under the formula, but that changes to that formula were the subject of consultation. The formula was robust and had been the subject of full consultation with schools.
RESOLVED:
That the funding announcements made so far and the timetable for the future be noted.
155 EVERY CHILD MATTERS - A HAMPSHIRE PERSPECTIVE
The Committee considered the report of the County Education Officer (Item 12 in the Minute Book) on salient issues emerging from the Green Paper "Every Child Matters", on which a response had been forwarded by the Cabinet on behalf of the County Council. A copy of the response was circulated and appears as Item 12(x) in the Minute Book.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the response sent by the Cabinet to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on the Green Paper "Every Child Matters" be endorsed.
(ii) That the contents of the report form the basis of any response which the County Council may wish to make the Queen's Speech in November 2003.
(iii) That the issue be taken back to Cabinet for further consideration of options in the light of the legislative programme.
156 DRAFT COMMUNITY STRATEGY FOR HAMPSHIRE
The Committee considered the report of the County Education Officer (Item 13 in the Minute Book) suggesting comments from an educational perspective on the draft Community Strategy for Hampshire which was currently the subject of consultation. Members focused on appendix 1, page 17, and endorsed the comments made in that Section relating to theme 3 - economic prosperity and lifelong learning. It was noted that the first meeting of the Lifelong Learning Best Value Review Panel had been held that morning, and they would be pursuing the themes set out in that section.
RESOLVED:
That the Community Strategy for Hampshire 2004/2007 as set out in the appendix to the submitted report, be endorsed and the comments highlighted be approved as a statement of appropriate actions to the County Council's contribution towards achieving the desired outcomes.
157 THE EDUCATION OTHER THAN AT SCHOOL (EOTAS) SERVICE AND SCHOOL EXCLUSIONS 2002/03
The Committee considered the report of the County Education Officer (Item 14 in the Minute Book) giving details of the EOTAS service restructuring, staffing, accommodation and budget; and setting out statistics on permanent exclusions from Hampshire Schools during the academic year 2002/03. Members felt that the numbers of permanent exclusions from Hampshire Schools were still too high, and stressed the need for more intervention and preventive work to obviate the need for exclusion in the first place, and also for effective reintegration wherever possible after exclusions. Despite the acknowledged costs of so doing, Members felt that this was an essential area of LEA activity since failure to deal appropriately with disruptive behaviour at school would only compound social problems into the future.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the Executive Member for Education be invited to note the contents of the report.
(ii) That the EOTAS service continues to work proactively with schools and other services and agencies to provide effective behaviour management support and advice.
(iii) That any resource implications identified in or as a result of this report be subject to consideration as part of the 2004/05 Education Department Budget Strategy.
158 HAMPSHIRE'S LOCAL PUBLIC SERVICE AGREEMENT - MONITORING THE EDUCATION TARGETS
The Committee considered the report of the County Education Officer (Item 15 in the Minute Book) on progress towards achieving the Education targets in the County Council's Local Public Service Agreement. Members accepted that the four targets highlighted in the report would be challenging for schools to achieve.
RESOLVED:
That the Committee notes progress made towards the Education targets in the County Council's Local Public Service Agreement and calls on communities and agencies to continue to support the schools in their work and that consideration be given to the possibility of incentives and/or business sponsorship.
159 QUESTIONS TO THE EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR EDUCATION
There were no questions notified.
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