Issue - meetings

Briefing Note of the Director for Education and Skills

The Board considered a briefing note of the Director for Education and Skills which provided an update on Coventry’s 2023 performance in the following areas:

·  Ofsted profile

·  Trends in pupil numbers

·  Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

·  Phonics and Key Stage 1

·  Key Stage 2

·  Key Stage 4 (provisional)

·  Age 16-19 attainment

·  Post-16 participation in education, employment and training

·  Attendance and exclusions

·  Difference in performance between males and females

·  Performance of vulnerable groups

The briefing note detailed the vision of the Coventry Education Partnership which encompasses high expectations for the achievement of children and young people to achieve their full potential whatever their culture or background. Statutorily it is the responsibility of school leaders to secure improvement in their school, but as part of our working partnership with all schools and settings, the LA acts as champions of educational excellence, forging strong professional relationships and networks.

Specifically, the Coventry Education Partnership prioritises enhancing the quality of education in Coventry for the 2023/24 academic year while bringing together the local authority, the primary school networks, the secondary collaboratives, and the school-to-school support in supporting schools on their improvement journey. Specific priorities for each key stage are also listed, such as early language development, phonics, reading, writing, maths, and post-16 outcomes.

Overall, most schools in Coventry have improved their Ofsted ratings in the last 12 months, but the proportion of children attending a good or better school is still below national average. Many inspections are imminent and positive outcomes are expected, which will improve Coventry's Ofsted profile. It also mentions the challenges faced by some schools due to Covid-related disruptions.

In terms of pupil population trends, Coventry has experienced a steady increase in pupil numbers, free school meal eligibility, non-white British children, and SEN support over the last five years. The data in the briefing note supports the changes in these indicators from 2019 to 2023 and compares them with national and statistical neighbours. It also highlights the implications of these trends for the provision and quality of education in Coventry.

Similarly, data explores he attainment and progress of pupils in Coventry at different key stages, from EYFS to KS5. It highlights the areas of improvement and challenge for each stage, and compares Coventry's performance with national and statistical neighbours. It shows that Coventry has improved its performance in most measures, especially in EYFS, KS1, and KS4, but remains below national average in some areas, such as reading at KS2 and A level grades at KS5. It also shows that Coventry has a positive Progress 8 score at KS4, indicating that pupils make more progress than expected nationally.

Aditionally, the briefing note identified that Coventry has a high rate of pupils progressing to education, employment or training after completing their 16 to 18 study, and a low rate of NEETs. There has also been a significant increase in the number of A level entries and the level 3 cohort, compared to national averages. This reflects the aspirations and achievements of Coventry's young  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30