Archived decisions

Item 3

AT A MEETING of the EDUCATION ADVISORY PANEL held at The Castle, Winchester on 28 January 2009.

PRESENT:

Councillors: Mrs P.A. West (Chairman); D.R. Blampied; B.D. Dash; K.D. Evans; K.L. Gill; Jo Kelly; R.J. Kimber; Mrs C.A. Leversha; Mrs S.A. Wheale.

Co-Opted Members: Mr J. Gawthorpe; Mr D. White.

Also in attendance: Councillor D.A. Kirk, Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education)

26 APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs E.M. Byrom.

27 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, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with paragraph 12 of the Code.

28 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting on 24 September 2008 were confirmed as correct and signed by the Chairman.

Matters arising:

Minute 21: Members enquired if the Head Teacher at Thornden School had been approached to speak to the panel, but were informed that the extensive agenda items thus far had prevented this from taking place.

29 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman led Members in welcoming Louise Brierley, Area Director for Education and Inclusion in North East Hampshire and Jean Leigh, District Manager for Hart.

The Chairman also welcomed Derek Myers, Senior Inspector/Advisor for the education of vulnerable children

30 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations made under this item.

31 NATIONAL CHALLENGE PROGRAMME

The panel received an oral report by the Director of Children's Services (handout included in the Minute Book) on the National Challenge Programme, an initiative to support and help schools achieve GCSE results above 30% 5 A*-C's including Maths and English. It was explained that each school would have a detailed plan which specified the activity to be supported by funding and they would use a National Challenge Advisor to help reach the target in its plan. Six Hampshire Secondary schools were originally identified by the Government to be part of the Programme, but after negotiation between the DCSF and the Local Authority, this had increased to seven. It was stressed that the criteria for selection as a National Challenge school took little account of monitoring or Ofsted reports, but schools were identified if their results were below 30% 5 A*-C's including Maths and English.

Members broadly supported the programme and felt that seven schools out of a nationwide 630 wasn't too bad for a county of Hampshire's size. Members welcomed the Programme as a source of additional funding to target issues, but were concerned about the funding disappearing when the target was met. Therefore, Members were reassured that the money was being used to make underlying structural changes to ensure any progress could be maintained. Members felt that the opportunity to target particular areas of concern such as Maths and English was positive as it was the inclusion of Maths and English that often brought a school's percentage of 5A*-C grades down.

It was acknowledged that in many cases the concern was not with the individual school but with wider community issues. Members were therefore pleased to hear of the possibility of Further and Higher Education Institutions sponsoring schools as it was felt this could be used to help schools address those wider community issues that impact so heavily on school performance.

32 GAINING GROUND SCHOOLS

The panel received an oral report by the Director of Children's Services on the Gaining Ground programme. It was highlighted that the Gaining Ground programme complemented the National Challenge programme as it was a preventative measure to help schools avoid falling into the position of a National Challenge school. It was explained that the majority of the Hampshire schools involved in this programme would self nominate as part of their self evaluative procedure, and would seek a partnership with other schools. Seven Hampshire schools were likely to qualify for Gaining Ground funding, but this was still to be finalised.

Members asked if Gaining Ground was linked to Ofsted, however they were informed that it had closer links to the National Challenge Programme, as it sought to prevent a Local Authority being unaware that a school was in danger of falling below 30% 5 A*-C's at GCSE. Members were concerned that there appeared to be quite a lot of work for what was little financial reward and the impact the programme may have on a school's reputation.

It was felt the strength of the Gaining Ground programme was that it enabled the Local Authority to identify schools who were part of the programme, rather than setting a mandatory limit as in the National Challenge Programme. Gaining Ground would enable the school and area manager to target particular areas of concern and therefore Members were broadly supportive of the programme.

33 EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED:

That in relation to the following item, the press and public be excluded from the meeting, as it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during that item there would be disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraphs 1,2 and 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and further that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons set out in the report.

34 PROGRESS OF SCHOOLS IN NORTH EAST HAMPSHIRE CAUSING CONCERN

The panel considered the exempt report of the Director of Children's Services on schools in North East Hampshire that were causing concern. Members discussed in detail issues relating to those schools.

[SUMMARY OF AN EXEMPT MINUTE]

35 CHANGE OF MEETING DATES

Members noted the date changes to the next meetings of the panel:

Tuesday 28 April 2009 at the Castle, Winchester, at 2.00 pm.

Wednesday 30 September 2009 at the Castle, Winchester, at 2.00 pm.