Issue - meetings

The Committee requested an update on the School Improvement Strategy - Report enclosed.

Ian Budd, Assistant Director for Education Services and Sophie Thompson, Intervention Data and Project Management Officer presented a report on the Nuneaton Education Strategy (NES). This sought to highlight the need for a new approach in raising the aspirations and outcomes for children and young people in Nuneaton. The report ‘Performance in Bedworth and Nuneaton Schools’ had identified a number of concerns, with extracts being reported. Notably, Nuneaton had the lowest educational performance within the County and the lowest proportion of category A and B schools. Currently 44% of secondary school aged young people attended a school in the town judged by Ofsted to require improvement. Other points concerned the increasing pupil cohorts, the suggestion that some eligible Nuneaton families were not claiming free school meals and concerns regarding primary schools and three secondary schools in Nuneaton. Additionally, the data relating to engagement with the Youth Justice Service and teenage pregnancies were of concern. The key focus of the NES was ‘raising aspiration, working together.’ A proposed multi-agency approach would have the maximum impact, using the Bradford Education Covenant as a model. That approach sought to mobilise the whole community to play a part in helping young people to succeed in life. In order to maximise opportunity to raise aspiration, linkage with the Transforming Nuneaton Programme Board and regeneration within the town were considered to be key. Three scoping meetings of key stakeholders had begun to work as ‘task and finish’ groups. The focus of these groups was reported. Progress reports would be provided on a termly basis to the Education Challenge Board and Warwickshire Education Strategy Board. Detailed briefings for elected members were scheduled for September and October. The aims of local education strategies were to increase the wellbeing, aspirations and outcomes for learners.

In Warwickshire this built on the evaluation of previous strategies and initiatives. The importance was stated of effective leadership, networking and collaboration, system leadership roles and sustainability, together with rich data and shared learning. An outline was given of the proposed actions to reduce the number of underperforming schools. Bespoke solutions were important both in tackling the specific issues faced and giving school leaders and staff a sense of ownership. There were benefits for the wider school workforce where they were equipped, encouraged and successes were celebrated. It was proposed to facilitate conferences, schools working together in small groups and sharing outstanding practice that others could visit and learn from. Actions to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils included working in clusters to share effective multi-agency practice, support for tuition, working with parents and involving pupils in leadership programmes.

The following questions and comments were submitted by members with responses provided as indicated:

• There were concerns about the proportion of pupils attending schools in Bedworth, but especially in Nuneaton that required improvement.

• There had been previous meetings with Marion Plant of the Midlands Academy Trust (MAT) where several assurances had been made, but not delivered. It was considered that a further meeting should  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5