Agenda and minutes

There were no Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.

a)  To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th January, 2018

b)  Matters Arising

The minutes of the meeting held on 11^th January, 2018 were approved.

Briefing Note of the Deputy Chief Executive (People)

Further to minute 60/16 the Scrutiny Board considered a briefing note and presentation of the Deputy Chief Executive (People) which provided an update for members on Coventry’s performance on the following:

•  Ofsted profile

•  Early Years Foundation Stage

•  Phonics and Key Stage 1

•  Key Stage 2

•  Key Stage 4

•  16-19 attainment

•  Post-16 participation in education, employment and training

Also detailed in the briefing note were headline achievement data for the following vulnerable groups (not yet validated):

•  Children Looked After (CLA)

•  Disadvantaged (previously referred to as Pupil Premium)

•  Special Educational Needs (SEN)

•  English as an Additional Language (EAL)

•  Ethnicity group – White British, Gypsy/Roma

The briefing noted that the Ofsted profile for primary schools in Coventry continued to rise and the profile for Secondary had improved since 2015.  Coventry had 100 per cent of pupils attending good or outstanding special schools.  The combined citywide profile continued to rise and was above national.

In conclusion the report noted that in 2017 there were some improvements to celebrate which included results at Key Stage 2, KS4 destinations and KS5 destinations and performance of some vulnerable groups.  A key overarching priority for 2017-18 was to continue to improve outcomes for all pupils so they were in line with or better than national.

The presentation focused on successes and key priorities including focusing on schools that were ‘coasting’ and ‘below the floor standard’ definitions were provided.  The system of national curriculum levels was no longer used by the government to report end of key stage assessment.  There was no ‘target’ for the amount of progress an individual pupil was expected to make.  Any amount of progress a pupil made contributed towards the school’s progress score.

The floor standard was the minimum standard for pupil attainment and / or progress that the government expected schools to meet.  In 2017, a school would be above the floor if:

·  at least 65% of pupils met the expected standard in English reading, English writing and mathematics; or

·  the school achieved sufficient progress scores in allthree subjects. At least -5 in English reading, -5 in mathematics and -7 in English writing

To be above the floor, the school needed to meet either the attainmentor all of the progress element.

Coasting schools are where, over time, pupils do not fulfil their potential.  The coasting definition was based on three years of data, using the same performance measures that underpin the floor standards. In line with regulations, in 2017a primary school falls within the coasting definition if based on revised data:

·  In 2015 fewer than 85% of pupils achieved level 4 in English reading, English writing and mathematics and below the national median percentage of pupils achieved expected progress in all of English reading, English writing and mathematics, and

·  In 2016 fewer than 85% of pupils achieve the expected standard at the end of primary schools and average progress made by pupils is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

Briefing Note of the Deputy Chief Executive (People)

Further to Minute 39/17 the Scrutiny Board considered a briefing note of the Deputy Chief Executive (People) which they had requested that provided an overview of the following information:

•  The number of permanent exclusions that had been implemented by   Coventry schools over the current academic year and the last two full   academic years; 

•  The post exclusion process, leading to either an alternative school offer   or alternative provision.  This included recent service developments   which were implemented in September 2017, as an outcome of the   Education re-design process.

•  The number of pupils that were not accessing full time education as a   result of permanent exclusion.

•  The Coventry Extended Learning Centre (ELC)

Officers discussed with members of the Board partnership working and One Strategic Plan.

The Scrutiny Board questioned officers on the following:

·  Managing the rising numbers of exclusions in primary and secondary schools in the city

·  Home schooling

·  The voice of the child

·  Time manged exclusions

·  Identifying Special Educational Needs early

·  Managing exclusions

·  The effect of exclusions on results

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Board request a report on

a.  the One Strategic Plan

b.  a report on the impact of the new managed transfer system 6   months since implementation

Briefing Note of the Deputy Chief Executive (People)

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Board defer consideration of this item until the next meeting to enable the feedback from the January Ofsted visit to be considered in public.

Outstanding Issues have been picked up in the Work Programme

The outstanding issues were picked up in the work programme.

Briefing Note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Scrutiny Board noted the work programme.

Any other items of business which the Chair decides to take as matters of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.

There were no other items of business.