Issue - meetings

This report provides an update and summary analysis of the overall performance of key groups of pupils in 2018 across all key stages in Bath and North East Somerset.

The Senior Education Improvement Adviser gave a presentation to the Panel regarding this item, a copy of the presentation can be found on the Panel’s Minute Book or as an online appendix to these minutes, a summary is set out below.

Overview – All Pupils – Primary

•  The Early Years Foundation Stage Good Level of Development is slightly above national figures.

•  There is no significant difference between the performance of schools in B&NES and national performance at any key stage except in progress from KS1 to KS2 in writing and mathematics.

•  B&NES is second in the South West for attainment at KS2

Overview – All Pupils – Secondary

•  There is no significant difference between the performance of schools in B&NES and national performance at any key stage.

•  B&NES is in the top 4 in the South West in the SW for attainment at KS4

•  The proportion of pupils achieving at least a standard pass (grades 9 to 4 or grades A*-C under the old system) in English and Mathematics has risen substantially from 63% in 2017 to 69% in 2018 compared to 65% for the South West and 64% nationally.

•  A level performance is improved and is now strong. There has been a strong rise in the proportion of students achieving the highest grades at A level from 10.3% to 13.1% compared to the national average of 10.4%. 

Overview – Disadvantaged Pupils

•  Outcomes for Disadvantaged pupils are significantly below both similar pupils nationally, and ‘Other’ pupils at all key stages.

•  Outcomes for these pupils at KS4 are on a worsening trend.

He said that the low performance of disadvantaged pupils is the main priority for the local authority and will need sustained and coordinated action over several years to properly address the challenge.

He explained that the data shows a significant proportion of disadvantaged pupils also have SEND and vice versa.  Where pupils have multiple disadvantages there is evidence to show that this has a significant detrimental impact on their progress. As a result a ‘one solution’ approach does not have the desired impact. For this reason the local authority has established a small project focussing on the schools with the highest percentage of disadvantaged learners over three years that addresses the impact of multiple disadvantages on pupils learning and progress.

Overview – SEN Support Pupils

•  Attainment of SEN Support pupils is in line with or above similar pupils nationally.

•  Progress of these pupils to KS2 and KS4 is significantly below all pupils nationally. However progress is generally above similar pupils nationally.

Overview – EHCP Pupils

•  Attainment of pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan is not significantly different from similar pupils nationally but at KS4 Attainment 8 outcomes are falling faster than nationally.

•  Progress to KS2 and KS4 is significantly below all pupils nationally. However at both KS2 and KS4 progress is catching up with similar pupils nationally.

Outcomes for other  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65