Agenda item

Quarterly Service Report

To consider the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the QSR for the fourth quarter of 2015/16 (January to March 2016) relating to Children, Young People and Learning, giving particular attention to outcomes of Ofsted school inspections, Fixed Term Exclusions and school attendance.

 

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

Minutes:

The Panel received the Children, Young People and Learning Quarterly Service Report for the period 1 January to 31 March 2016.

 

The Director of Children, Young People and Learning highlighted some headlines from the report including:

  • the imminent handover of the new Warfield West School
  • the continued success of the online school place application system
  • the publication of a range of annual Statements of Purpose for Children’s Social Care
  • the successful launch of the MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub) based at Easthampstead House
  • a pleasing external assessment report received regarding the Youth Offending Service’s recent inspection
  • the beginning of Ofsted’s SEND (Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities) inspections in May 2016; the closest inspection to Bracknell Forest had been in Brighton and Hove
  • the new education Bill, entitled Education for All was expected in June 2016

 

Ian Dixon, Head of Targeted Services in Learning and Achievement attended the meeting to present on School Exclusions and Attendance.

 

It was explained that only a headteacher of a school could exclude a pupil, and only on disciplinary grounds. Exclusions could last for a maximum of 45 school days in a school year, or they could be permanent. In exceptional cases requiring further evidence or a police investigation, a fixed term exclusion could be extended. All exclusions had to be reported and counted, including lunchtime exclusions for disruptive behaviour. Informal or ‘unofficial’ exclusions were unlawful.

 

Data demonstrated that for the number of primary school fixed period exclusions and of primary school days lost, Bracknell Forest was significantly below the national average. With regard to the number of secondary school fixed period exclusions, Bracknell Forest was in line with its statistical neighbours and below the national average. However, it was reported that although the number of secondary school exclusions was below the national average, there were an average of 7.1 days lost as a result of exclusion in Bracknell Forest compared to the national average 4.9 days lost. Work was ongoing to establish the cause for the high number of days lost.

 

The number of fixed period exclusions in schools between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016 demonstrated that The Brakenhale School had reported 156 exclusions, the most of all Bracknell Forest schools. College Hall Pupil Referral Unit had reported 87 exclusions, and it was noted that there were no national benchmarks for PRUs against which to compare.

 

With regard to attendance, it was explained that absences were monitored rather than attendance. Absence could be defined as a pupil’s overall absence, an authorised absence which was usually on medical grounds, an unauthorised absence such as a term-time holiday, or persistent absence where a pupil’s absence equates to 10% of their possible attendance. It was noted that this number had been tightened from 15% last year.

 

It was reported that Legal Services were examining the judgement following the Isle of Wight case with a parent taking his child on an unauthorised holiday, and the Department for Education intended to strengthen the guidance around unauthorised holiday.

 

The total absences for primary and secondary schools demonstrated that Bracknell Forest was below its neighbours and the national average.

 

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

·         Ranelagh School and the other academies were included in the data, as a state-funded school.

·         There was no common criteria for exclusion, but in all schools it would be resultant of persistent poor behaviour.

·         The number of fixed period exclusions was rising both in Bracknell Forest and nationally. There was no clear reason for this, and Ian agreed to produce the trend data for each school individually.

·         Curriculum work issued to excluded children was not monitored by the Local Authority, but Members were assured that Ofsted would recognise and measure whether work for repeatedly excluded children was below standard.

 

Christine McInnes, Chief Officer: Learning and Achievement provided an update on the Ofsted Inspection Outcomes to June 2016. Fox Hill Primary School had been inspected since the last Panel meeting and had been graded ‘Requires Improvement’. Jennett’s Park Primary School and Easthampstead Park Secondary School were due to be inspected. The Panel commented on the difficulties faced by Easthampstead Park and other schools which were inspected during exam season when lessons were replaced by revision sessions. It was reported that this had been raised with the link Ofsted Officer, and it had been proposed that the schedule of inspections be amended. Officers commented that this was unlikely to happen.

Supporting documents:

 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk