Archived decisions

Contact: Felicity Roe 01962 846374.; [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1. All LEAs have been invited to enter into a Compact with the DfES, with the aim being to complete the agreement by the end of December 2003, with annual reviews thereafter. This is intended as a statement of intent between the DfES and the LEA, rather than with the wider community of schools. It sets out the main contributions the DfES and LEA are making to a selection of mutual priorities. It is also an opportunity for LEAs to suggest to DfES changes to working practice and to policy that could strengthen and improve the LEA relationship with DfES and with schools. The copy of the draft compact attached at Appendix 1 is a working draft, and many areas are still under consideration by DfES.

2. Background

2.1. Andrew Seber, as President of ConfEd, was part of a working group which developed this compact principle with the DfES. This led to a Local Government Association (LGA)/DfES Statement of Intent for partnership working (see Appendix 2), which is to be played out through the Compact agreement.

2.2. The DfES is not offering any additional resources as part of this process, but is encouraging the use of Compacts as a means of working towards a strengthened partnership between DfES and LEAs. There are signs of greater intention from the DfES to listen, and to change their ways of working, policies and practice. As part of the development of the Compacts, LEAs have been invited to outline changes to DfES policy, procedures and practice that would strengthen capacity to support school improvement.

2.3. The development of the Compact is entirely voluntary, and has no statutory basis, although LEAs generally are keen to take the opportunity to identify improvement in mutual support for local priorities. DfES will be looking with LEAs at the issues raised in all Compacts to find common messages - so this has potential to be a powerful tool through which LEAs can influence the deployment of DfES resources.

2.4. The draft Hampshire Compact (draft attached as Appendix 1) sets out a selection of mutual priorities, summarising outcomes and the contributions Hampshire County Council and the DfES will be making to achieving them. All the outcomes and targets are drawn from existing County Council priorities, and are within existing resources.

2.5. The language is heavy on jargon in places, to maximize brevity in a document intended as a working document between the LEA and DfES. A brief glossary has been included at the end of the Compact to help Members decipher the acronymns.

2.6. This is very much a working draft. The DfES contribution as set out in appendix 1 was drafted by the LEA for DfES consideration, and DfES is currently in the process of responding to this. The responses received so far from various parts of the DfES have been positive, and show a willingness to consider and work with our suggestions.

2.7. Consultation

2.7.1. Although this is essentially an LEA/DfES partnership, the draft Compact has been shared with headteacher conference executives and county governor forum, who have welcomed the initiative. Governors have asked that the Compact introduction be amended to include a reference to their support for the development of the DfES/LEA partnership as set out in the document.

2.8. Revisions

2.8.1. The draft will be revised following this meeting in the light of comments from PRC, and will be amended to reflect the feedback from DfES.

2.8.2. Once agreed the Compact will be reviewed annually with DfES, in the Autumn term. PRC members will be given the opportunity to consider proposed revisions at the beginning of the dialogue with DfES.

3. Recommendation

That Education PRC members comment on the draft Compact, particularly on any changes to working practice at the DfES that could improve the working relationship with DfES or strengthen the LEA's role.

PRC are invited to recommend that the Executive Member agrees the final version of the Compact, for adoption as Hampshire's Compact with DfES.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Documents

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.

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