Issue - meetings

A paper presenting the report of the Educational Attainment Working Group.

Cabinet Portfolio Holder – Councillor Kam Kaur

Councillor Kam Kaur, Portfolio Holder for Education, introduced this final report from the Educational Attainment Working Group which followed on from an interim report presented in February 2023.  The Working Group was set up in response to a Council Motion with the remit of examining the causes of disparity in attainment and to make suggestions on the initial stages of an action plan to reduce those disparities. There were four recommendations detailed in the report:

1.     Lobbying for legislative change

2.     Enhanced scrutiny of education strategies

3.     Enhanced promotion of opportunities for pupils

4.     Continued progress of the Warwickshire Education Partnership Board

Councillor Kaur tabled a revised recommendation which added the words

“subject to alignment with current budget, governance and policy”.

In response to a question from Councillor Sarah Feeney regarding disadvantaged pupils and pupils from deprived backgrounds, Councillor Margaret Bell (who had been a member of the Working Group) explained that the Group had looked at these issues throughout its work.  She noted that disadvantage was not and should not be a driving factor in attainment and was pleased to see some schools proving an outlier to trends.  During its discussions, the Group had been reassured that policies were in place to address attainment issues identified.

Resolved:

That Cabinet endorses the recommendations of the Educational Attainment Working Group, subject to alignment with current budget, governance and policy.