Agenda item

To consider the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the Quarterly Service Report for the second quarter of 2014/15 (July to September 2014) relating to Children, Young People and Learning, giving particular attention to outcomes of Ofsted school inspections and updates on progress by schools on ‘closing the gap’ in attainment, validated ‘A’ Level results, teacher recruitment, and the number of children looked after and in child protection.

Please bring the previously circulated Quarterly Service Report to the meeting.  Copies are available on request and attached to this agenda if viewed online.

Panel members are asked to give advance notice to the Overview and Scrutiny Team of any questions relating to the QSR where possible

The Panel considered the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the QSR for the second quarter of 2014/15 (July to September 2014) relating to Children, Young People and Learning.

The Panel received tabled information on ‘A’ Level exam results, inspection outcomes and teacher recruitment. The number of teachers recruited in Bracknell Forest was growing steadily; 1,064 teachers were currently employed in the borough as opposed to 965 in 2009. The age profile of teachers: 15% of primary school teachers were over 55 years of age and 9% of secondary school teachers were over 55 years. A third of teachers were aged 30 or under and 37% joined as newly qualified teachers (NQTs), some of which were now headteachers.

Headteachers were being encouraged to work part time and to come back after retirement to pass on valuable experience. A third of primary school headteachers were aged 56 or above and deputy primary headteachers had a young profile. There was a good track record of retaining NQT’s and supporting development of teachers including middle leadership training. There was an Executive Headteacher model and currently three Executive Headships in place in the borough pending the appointment of permanent headteachers.

Ten recruitment fairs were planned for 2015; two had been held so far one of which was in Exeter and the contact details of 37 NQTs was gathered to keep in touch with them and advise of job opportunities in the borough. Recruitment managers had been invited to attend and schools could recruit trainee teachers directly at the end of their education via ‘School Direct’ and work with them to provide experience and training.

The Department for Education (DfE) was increasing the number of training places available. In 2015-16, 47% of primary school teachers and 32% of secondary school teachers were obtained via ‘School Direct’. Schools were advised to advertise vacancies as soon as possible. NQTs were highly sought after and grants were offered to train teachers in particular subjects.

The Chairman requested that this information be monitored and expanded to include the gender profile and national figures and trends for comparison for consideration by the Panel every six months.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate (HMI) reports had been released and the findings showed the number of children attending ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ schools. Many schools had moved from ‘good’ to ‘requires improvement’ owing to the new tougher inspection regime and Bracknell was lower in relation to the national average. However, 73% of children attended ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ secondary schools in the borough. Bracknell had a low percentage nationally of GSCE results grade A* - C at 22% and the implications of the HMI findings were being considered.

In response to Members’ questions, the following points were made:

• The headteachers of The Pines and Jennett’s Park were due to leave at Easter and in the summer of 2015. There was a national talented leader programme which was promoted by government to recruit a pool of headteachers. There were currently 22 headteachers in this programme and there was a process for targeting schools with the aim of spending £55,000 on leadership. The number of children receiving free school meals and Ofsted outcomes would be used to identify these schools.

• Headteachers usually left their posts at the end of the school year but could leave any time during the year, usually at the end of a term. Agency staff were included in figures regarding all staff currently in post. It was requested that this information be added in, in future.
• New schools could be more popular because forms of entry could be expanded in a controlled manner which was easier to establish, where as surge classrooms for schools were more difficult to establish.

• It was difficult to forecast when headteachers were likely to leave their posts and there could be legal challenge if this information was requested from them. The responsibility rested with the school and the governing body. Schools needed to announce the arrival and departure of key members of staff.
• The Ofsted figures for schools in Bracknell were up to date for all published inspections. It was requested that future reports be expanded to indicate when schools were last inspected and whether an inspection was anticipated in the current academic year and be formatted by phase and type of school.
• Advisers would attend all schools in the borough, regardless of their Ofsted report grading. The level of weighting given to pupil premium pupils by Ofsted was high. Pupil premium pupils often made expected progress but because they did not make better progress this had a negative impact on inspection findings. There was a new inspection framework from September 2014 and it was surprising that the performance of a small group of pupil premium pupils was given so much weight when other pupils were performing well.
• It was suggested that it would be useful to breakdown the information regarding Ofsted findings in future and to provide a supplement to the information.

• Pre-meetings at schools before Ofsted inspections had been found to be valuable in providing good experience and advice and pre-Ofsted monitoring support was thought to be good.
• The target was for all schools in the borough to receive an Ofsted grading of ‘good’ in the future. There was aspiration regarding a broader range of indicators. Much depended on the leadership in schools and schools taking advice when it was offered by the local authority. A timescale could be added to the shared vision published a year ago for this to be accomplished.
• Bracknell had slightly lower results in A* at A-Level when compared nationally. Many young people were taking one or two A-Levels with fewer taking three A-Levels. It was requested that the ‘A’ Level results of Bracknell and Wokingham College students be added to future updates. A report had been commissioned locally in relation to what could be done to raise standards post-16.
• It was suggested that the destination for students post-16 be added.

There were currently 105 children in care in Bracknell which was below the South East and national average. Work had been undertaken in this area over the past two years and in 2014, 15 children were subject to guardianship or special protection orders. Bracknell Forest Council was on track to meet this target again in 2015. There were 113 children on child protection plans (CPPs) in the borough and some larger families could affect these figures. Court work was a key impact of this work and children on CPPs were monitored for nine months plus.

There was a full briefing on Child Sexual Exploitation on 26 January 2015 at 7:30 pm with a joint presentation from the Children, Young People and Learning Department and the police.

The Berkshire Adoption Service was a new joint service with other Berkshire Local Authorities which was operational from 1 December 2014. There was much development work being undertaken regarding care leavers, such as with the life skills programme.