Agenda item

Purpose: To receive information relating to progress in schools performance particularly in English and Mathematics.

(Councillor Webster declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 10 by virtue of the fact that her cousin used to teach in a West Berkshire school. As her interest was personal and not a disclosable pecuniary interest, she determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter).

Ian Pearson provided the Commission with an introduction to school performance, drawing Members’ attention to previous reviews which had considered 2011 results and in the following year, 2012 GCSE results. Following a review of 2011 results, the Commission had been disappointed by the mathematics results. Strategies had been put in place to address this, and the following year they had proven successful. In 2012 it was the results for GCSE English which had been disappointing and discussions were taking place to consider strategies to address this. Ian Pearson further commented that consideration was being given to more vulnerable students such as those in receipt of free school meals, for whom the Government provided £900 per pupil in pupil premium. The results achieved by these students were included in the annual results.

Ian Pearson introduced Sarah Brinkley and Charlotte Wilson, Head Teachers of John O Gaunt school and Trinity school respectively. Both schools had achieved an increase in their overall results from 2011 to 2012.

The Chairman asked what the Head Teachers considered to be the reason for the improvement in results. Charlotte Wilson responded that in 2008 the school had been part of the national challenge programme as the results were very poor. By 2012 the school had become very different by changing its systems, ethos, and uniforms. The school aimed to provide pupils with the tools to have confidence and believe in themselves. The catchment area of the school included one of the most impoverished areas of Newbury.

Councillor Beck asked whether the pupil premium played a part in increasing standards. Sarah Brinkley responded with a number of examples of how the pupil premium was used by John O Gaunt school which included homework clubs, laptop loans, peripatetic music lessons, providing taxis for parents to enable them to attend parent evenings, reading devices, placements and work programmes. Work was also being undertaken to raise the aspirations of boys, for example by using climbing walls to assist in visualising and reaching a dream. The school was currently visiting villages to interact directly with parents. The impact of these initiatives was being seen in different ways: pupil’s attitude to learning was improving, there had been an increase in homework submission for example; attendance had increased; attendance at parent evenings had increased; there had also been an upturn in the levels of progress in English.

Councillor Beck asked whether interaction with parents during the village roadshows had proven successful. Sarah Brinkley replied that in addition to visiting primary schools, they were arranging different venues in order to attract parents who were not comfortable in any school setting. The first of these meetings in alternate venues was to be in a local pub and was yet to take place hence it was therefore too early to assess their success.

Councillor Webster asked for suggestions as to how funding could be better used. Elaine Ricks advised the Commission that, in terms of secondary schools, there were currently five Academies; four local authority maintained secondary schools and one undergoing transition to become a sponsored Academy, which bought back support from the Local Education Authority. Four years ago there had been a larger team able to provide subject support to ten secondary schools. The School Improvement Team was now reduced in size. A programme would shortly be offered to schools for middle leaders.

Sarah Brinkley commented that additional support with English was useful as it provided a fresh pair of eyes to consider. She continued that the middle leadership programme would be of interest and that additionally networking between schools would be valuable in order to meet and share experiences.

Councillor Quentin Webb enquired as to the relationship between the schools’ leadership teams and governing bodies. Charlotte Wilson advised that Trinity school had a small governing body who had been asked to be focussed in their challenges. It was a successful relationship as the governors were keen to allow leaders to operate the school whilst being a critical friend to them. Sarah Brinkley agreed that John O Gaunt’s governing body was equally supportive and challenging, and importantly was considered to be a key part of the school.

Councillor Irene Neill advised the Commission that the Council had a governor support role to assist individuals in understanding their role as governor as well as providing information on how to interpret school data.

Councillor Dave Goff asked how governing bodies knew whether they were working effectively. Ian Pearson responded that it was possible to audit governing bodies to ensure understanding of and compliance with its role. He added that training and support were provided but some governors were resistant. Sarah Brinkley advised that the governors meeting at John O Gaunt often included a short session of training across different areas to ensure all governors were equally skilled.

Referring to the examples provided about the use of the pupil premium, Councillor Rendel asked to what extent schools were sharing information about the success of different initiatives. Maxine Slade responded that national good practice reports (for example from Ofsted) were circulated to schools, and in addition a Pupil Premium Strategy was being developed for West Berkshire, and an Officer had been identified to take the lead for information sharing between schools.

In response to being asked how the number of pupils entitled to the pupil premium should be calculated as numbers might change during the course of a single year, Ian Pearson responded that the information was made available by the Department for Work and Pensions whose database provided information on families who would qualify. It was acknowledged that the information was not always completely accurate. The Chairman requested that this be addressed in the Pupil Premium Strategy. Maxine Slade confirmed that it would be included.

Councillor Rendel asked who ensured that pupils claimed the free school meals they were entitled to. Maxine Slade advised the Commission that pupil premium was also available for looked after children and the children of service personnel and confirmed that schools wrote to parents to inform them of their eligibility.

Sarah Brinkley commented that the stigma of receiving free school meals needed to be removed in order to increase take up and suggested that it might be productive for information to be more readily available in locations where parents would find it.

Charlotte Wilson informed the Commission that family support workers could be directed to assist and, in addition, at Trinity school there was a secretary who discretely assisted with the completion of the necessary forms.

Councillor Vickers was concerned that the welfare reforms might impact on those entitled to free school meals and requested that this be specifically considered. Maxine Slade advised that if a pupil had qualified for free school meals within the previous six years, the school would remain entitled to receive the pupil premium for them. This was intended to assist with any transition periods.  Charlotte Wilson confirmed that the pupil premium was allocated on an individual basis and was not related to whether siblings were entitled to it.

Councillor Brooks stated that he was reassured by the information received but asked what confidence there was that there would be an improvement in 2013. Ian Pearson acknowledged that English results had been disappointing, but highlighted that for the English Baccalaureate, West Berkshire schools had been in the top quartile nationally. Additionally, while West Berkshire schools achieved a result 1.7% lower than the national average, in terms of 5 A*-C including English & Maths, by removing the GCSE equivalent qualifications, West Berkshire performed 4.2% above the national average.

Sarah Brinkley expressed her belief that the literacy challenge would not be solved quickly but that by taking a whole school approach whereby teachers of every subject took responsibility for the correct use of English steps would be made. Charlotte Wilson agreed and added that secondary schools needed to work with primary schools to ensure that pupils arrived with a good level of literacy. It was also critical to ensure that good quality teachers were recruited in the key areas of English, Maths and Science.

The Chairman thanked everybody for their contribution.

Resolved that the report be noted.