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Contact: Bob Eardley, Strategic Planning Manager, 01962 846275

1. Summary

1.1 This report updates the Committee on progress towards the Education targets in the County Council's Local Public Service Agreement.

2. Background

2.1 The County Council entered into a Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA) on 1 April 2002, which runs until 31 March 2005. LPSAs are a Government initiative designed to enhance co-operation between local and central government. The Agreements consist of a range of targets (thirteen in Hampshire's case) across key services. The main principle is that in return for achieving key stretching targets over a three year period, councils receive a Reward Grant. In addition, an initial pump-priming grant is available from Government to supplement local resources in support of achieving the targets. The majority of the targets are set by Government, but local targets can be included as well. In the main, LPSA targets are built on those already established or being developed within individual services. The Hampshire LPSA as a whole has a strong focus on areas of relative social deprivation. LPSAs are managed by the Government through the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).

2.2 The LPSA includes four targets for Education: two are locally focused on areas of relative local deprivation, one is county-wide and one has both local and county-wide elements. All targets relate to secondary education:

· Target 1 (county-wide) covers KS3 performance

· Target 2 (locally focused on twelve schools in areas of relative deprivation, and county-wide) covers GCSE performance

· Target 3 (locally focused) covers unauthorised absence

· Target 4 covers performance, unauthorised absence and exclusions in areas of social deprivation in Gosport.

The targets are summarised in Appendix 1.

2.3 Achievement of each target attracts a Reward Grant of some £1.6m, a total of about £6.4m if all four targets are achieved in full. Reward Grant is reduced on a sliding scale for performance between 100% and 60% of the amount of "stretch" featured in the target, i.e. 60% of the difference between the level of achievement with and without the LPSA in place. Below 60%, nothing is payable.

2.4 A key feature of LPSA targets is that they are very challenging to achieve. In the case of KS3 and GCSE, the targets set in the EDP are recognised as very demanding: the LPSA targets go a step further. Achievement of the targets should not, therefore, be considered a foregone conclusion.

3. Support for schools

3.1 Pump-priming grant totalling £984,000 was made available by the ODPM to support schools in setting up arrangements, which has allowed schools to implement measures to support progress towards the LPSA targets. A summary of the allocation of pump-priming grant is shown in Appendix 2.

3.2 Specific support for schools is available through specialist staff in the Education Department. For targets 1 and 2, this is provided principally through attached inspectors, with particular emphasis on the twelve schools in areas of relative deprivation in target 2 (GCSE performance). For target 3 (unauthorised absence) support is through the Education Welfare Service. For Target 4, support is through attached inspectors, the Education Welfare Service and the EOTAS service.

4. Monitoring framework

4.1 There is no formal programme of monitoring by the ODPM during the period of the LPSA. An internal corporate monitoring regime at officer level is in place, led by the Chief Executive, which co-ordinates LPSA work across the County Council. Progress reports have been submitted to Cabinet, most recently on 27 October. Within the Education Department, termly reports on progress are submitted to the departmental management team

5. Performance monitoring

5.1 Progress so far towards the targets is summarised in the tables below.

Target 1 - KS3

5.2 This target covers all Hampshire secondary schools. Performance is summarised below.

Key Stage 3 Level 5

	Base	2002	2003	LPSA targets - 100%	LPSA targets - 60%
English	69%	71%	74%	81%	80.6%
Mathematics	73%	72%	76%	81%	80.6%
Science	74%	73%	76%	78%	76.8%
ICT	69%	69%	71%	80%	78.8%

5.3 Overall these targets are proving very challenging, although progress with science is good. The national picture is similar, although Hampshire is performing better than its statistical neighbours and is improving faster. Given the national picture, a case is being made to the DfES and ODPM that the LPSA targets are too stretching; this is a national target and the LPSA stretch element is based on DfES targets which appear in the main likely to be missed nationally. The case is being put forward in the context of the recent relaxation of targets at Key Stage 2.

Target 2 - GCSE

5.4 This has two components: the countywide target and the aggregate target relating to twelve schools in areas of relative deprivation (listed in Appendix 1).

	Base	2002	2003	LPSA targets - 100%	LPSA targets - 60%
County-wide	56%	56%	57.9%	63.8%	63.5%
Twelve schools	36.2%	37%	39%	43%	41.4%

5.5 Progress by the twelve schools is good and the target appears to be achievable. County-wide performance has improved, but the LPSA target, which exceeds the very challenging target in the Education Development Plan, will be difficult to achieve.

Target 3 - Unauthorised absence

	Base (2000/01)	2002/03	LPSA target - 100%	LPSA target - 60%
Andover	0.87%	1.92%	0.74%	0.76%
Havant	3.10%	3.34%	2.64%	2.70%
North Basingstoke	2.34%	1.40%	1.99%	2.04%

5.6 There are geographical variations in performance, which are being reviewed with the schools concerned. In Andover, although the average level of unauthorised absence for the schools still shows an increase from the base level, during the last year (2002/03) not only has the average level of unauthorised absence decreased from 2.65% in 2001/02 (to 1.92%) but the average level of attendance for both schools has increased from 88.35% to 90.36%.

5.7 Similarly, the average level of unauthorised absence for the Havant schools has decreased from 4.90% in 2001/02 to 3.34% in 2002/03. During the same period, the average level of attendance has increased from 87.1% to 88.94%.

5.8 In north Basingstoke, the figures for the schools have improved with a drop in the average level of unauthorised absence from 1.95% in 2001/02 to 1.40% and an increase in the average level of attendance from 87.84% in 2001/02 to 90.38% in 2002/03.

5.9 The appointment of education welfare assistants in each of the schools covered by this target, most of whom were appointed just over a year ago and who work closely with the Education Welfare Service, would appear to be having a positive impact both upon levels of attendance and levels of unauthorised absence. These posts were funded initially from LPSA pump-priming grant.

Target 4 - Gosport Secondary schools

	Base	2002/03	LPSA targets - 100%	LPSA targets - 60%
5+ A*-C GCSE	32.6%	36%	39%	37.8%
5+ A*-G GCSE (incl. English & maths)	89.4%	80%	93%	92.2%
Unauthorised absence	2.26%	3.59%	1.47%	1.69%
Permanent exclusions	8.5 per school	12 per school	6.8 per school	7.5 per school

5.10 Progress towards the 5 A*-C target has shown a slight fall from last year, although the target still appears achievable. A*-G results are of more concern; the target itself is very challenging and there has been a fall in performance from last year, which was already below the base. The schools have worked hard to raise pupils' aspirations, particularly at Bridgemary Community School. This particular year group however had suffered previously from poor attendance and there were problems over coursework and continuing erratic attendance, including at the examinations themselves, despite the school and Education Welfare Officer's best efforts. Unauthorised absence and exclusions have also increased. Follow-up action is in hand on the latter targets.

5.11 The average level of unauthorised absence for both Gosport schools has increased during the last year, from 2.35% in 2001/02 to 3.59% in 2002/03. It remains above the base level of 2.26% Moreover, the reduction in the average level of attendance for both schools deteriorated from 89.99% in 2001/02 to 89.30% in 2002/03. This would suggest that the schools are now challenging pupil absence more rigorously, by recording more of it as unauthorised. In an attempt to respond to the levels of both unauthorised absence and attendance, the Education Welfare Service is responding by allocating more of its resources to these two schools and by setting up a pilot project of basing a team of its education welfare officers in schools in this part of the county.

6. Current and future action in support of schools

6.1 In addition to the specific measures to support progress towards the LPDSA targets mentioned in section 5, a meeting was held in September for the heads of the twelve key schools in Target 2 (six of which are involved in Target 3) and the two Gosport schools involved in Target 4. This was intended primarily as a refresher in advance of visits by attached inspectors before half-term and to focus on issues involved in achieving the targets. The schools understand the challenges ahead and are keen to work together and with the county council and other agencies to develop sustainable ways forward. The results of attached inspector visits will be fed back into future monitoring, so that a better assessment can be made of likely progress.

Recommendations

1. That the Committee notes progress 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.

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.

NB: the list excludes:

1. Published works

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

None.

Appendix 1

Local Public Service Agreement Education targets

Target 1

To increase the percentage of 14 year olds in Hampshire secondary schools at or above the standard of literacy, numeracy, science and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for their age.

By 2004, 81% of 14 year olds will achieve Level 5 or above in English and mathematics, 80% in ICT and 78% in science;

Target 2

a) to secure a countywide target of 63.8% of pupils achieving 5 or more GCSE passes at grades A* - C (or equivalent).

b) to increase by at least 7% the number of pupils achieving five or more GCSE passes at Grades A* - C (or equivalent) in secondary schools in the following areas of relative deprivation:

Aldershot/Farnborough

Andover

Havant

North Basingstoke

and

c) to ensure that at least 43% of pupils in secondary schools in these areas, achieve this standard by 2004.

Schools covered by (b) and (c):

· Connaught Secondary - Aldershot

· Oak Farm Community - Farnborough

· Wavell Secondary - Farnborough

· Harrow Way Community - Andover

· John Hanson Secondary - Andover

· Winton Secondary - Andover

· Park Community - Havant

· Staunton Park Community - Havant

· Warblington Secondary - Havant

· Fort Hill Community - Basingstoke

· John Hunt of Everest Community - Basingstoke

· The Vyne Secondary - Basingstoke

Target 3

To reduce unauthorised absences in secondary schools in the following targeted areas by 15% from 2002 to 2005:

Schools covered by Target 3:

· Harrow Way Community - Andover

· Winton Secondary - Andover

· Park Community - Havant

· Staunton Park Community - Havant

· Fort Hill Community - Basingstoke

· Richard Aldworth Community - Basingstoke

Target 4

a) to increase the proportion of pupils attending Bridgemary and Brune Park secondary schools, Gosport who achieve

i) five or more GCSE passes at A*-C by 7% by 2004 to 39%;

ii) five or more GCSE passes at A*-G (including English and mathematics) by 2004 by 4% to 93%.

b) to reduce the number of unauthorised absences by 35% at each school by 2005

c) to reduce the number of permanent exclusions by 20% at each school by 2005.

Appendix 2

Pump-priming grant to support achievement of the LPSA targets