Agenda item

Briefing Note of the Director of Children and Education.

The Education and Children’s Services Scrutiny Board (2) considered a Briefing Note and a presentation of the Director of Childrens Services and Education regarding the Coventry Education Performance.

The Briefing Note updated Members of the Board on Coventry’s 2024 performance in the following areas:

• Trends in pupil numbers
• Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
• Phonics
• Key Stage (KS) 2
• Key Stage (KS) 4 (provisional)
• 16-19 attainment (provisional)
• Attendance and exclusions
• Difference in performance between males and females
• Performance of vulnerable groups

Officers highlighted the statistical information set out in section 4.4 of the report which stated:

• There had been an increase in pupil population over the last 5 years from 57,570 in 2020 to 61,566 in 2024 – 6.9% increase since 2020.
• The number of children eligible for free school meals had increased from 20.1% in 2020 to 28.2% in 2023 – an 8.1% increase over 5 years.
• There had been an increase of 5.9% in non-white British children between 2020 and 2024.
• The proportion of the pupil population receiving SEN support had also increased by 2,157 (2.6%) since 2020, and 726 (increase of 1%) more children on an EHCP.

In considering the Briefing Note and presentation, the Board questioned officers, received responses, and discussed matters as summarised below:

• A national increase in number on free school meals and how this could be down to changes in Universal Credit.
• How SEND performance compared to national averages and the work being done to improve the service.
• That there was no data on Key Stage 3 performance as this was not assessed nationally, but progress made at KS3 was reflected in KS4 results.
• How schools and the Council were providing for the estimated 4000 new students in the city and how population growth and transience was affecting schools and different areas in different ways.
• Recognition of the good work supporting pupils with English as an additional language and the positive impact that additional languages can have on learning.
• How parents were encouraged to ensure their children were attending school.
• That the presented data didn’t include home educated children, and further how legislative changes would impact home education providers.
• That independent schools were not included in the discussion and the data.
• The cause of exclusion numbers increasing in schools, particularly SEN schools.
• If mainstream and special schools could follow a model of sharing facilities and green spaces where geographically appropriate.
• How exclusions impacted children’s grades and those of their classmates, and how exclusions were judged and implemented.

Members requested that the following information be circulated to them:

·   Further information from SACRE on the numbers of children receiving religious education (if available).

·   Data regarding the proportion of unaccompanied asylum seekers in receipt of free school meals.

·   The Report of the Task and Finish Group on Autism.

·   The One Strategic Plan Sufficiency Report from 2023-24.

·  The new model for managing exclusions be added to the work programme for 25/26.

RESOLVED that the Education and Children’s Services Scrutiny Board (2):

1. Agrees to note the information in the report about the Coventry Education Performance.

2. Agrees that a letter be sent to Natalie Rock, Head of Stoke Park School, and representatives of the other education partnerships, formally thanking them for their work, and noting the challenges faced and improvements made.