Decision details

The committee considered the report in the agenda (copy attached to the official minutes).

Mrs Dignum (Chairman of the Task and Finish Group) presented the report.

The committee made the following comments, which were answered by Mr Hansford and Mrs Lintill:

·             Cynicism amongst school heads and welfare impact on staff and pupils in chasing statistics – Mrs Dignum responded that stress was inevitable and some schools had not had time to look closely at the requirements of the new curriculum. There was no evidence that children were disadvantaged but teachers were using different phraseology in asking the children to carry out tasks and this had been managed. 

·             Problems with recruitment and discipline with amount of extra bureaucracy – Academies had trained their own heads from existing staff.  Discipline was not something covered in the review.

·             Rother College not mentioned - Mr Hansford advised that TKAT academy had been invited as a witness as they had both primary and secondary schools in the district. Mrs Dignum advised that the results of Midhurst Rother were included on the spreadsheet of results considered by the group. Mrs Apel noted that academies were not always very receptive to WSCC going in to review progress whereas the state schools were. 

·             Ofsted ratings good level in this district – It was suggested that a letter be sent to heads and teachers congratulating them on the results. Safeguarding was paramount and where this was not being followed to the letter schools had been penalised.

·             Concern at demands of the new educational assessment system and the difficulty in understanding it - Mrs Dignum advised that it was designed to keep a closer degree of control on things. WSCC had acknowledged its error in withdrawing financial support in the assistance they gave to schools and had realised that certain schools had fallen beneath their radar and were now visiting every school on a termly basis. Schools also had access to a school link worker.

RESOLVED

1)          That the effect of changes to the assessment process on the comparative performance of schools and the overall positive direction of travel be noted.

2)          That should the committee wish to revisit educational attainment when the new curriculum and testing regime are better established, that a) a more broad look at temporary and permanent exclusions and b) the readiness of school leavers for further education or employment, be considered.

3)          That a letter be sent by the committee to school heads and teachers in the district to thank them for their hard work in driving up standards and attainment as well as coping with changing demands and a difficult financial background.