Issue - meetings

This report provides the Panel with an overview of early-years & school education performance in the academic year 2023-24, including information on the LA's approach to working with the academy sector to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.

The Director of Education & Safeguarding introduced the report to the Panel and highlighted the following points from it.

·  In the early years foundation stage (EYFS), the percentage of children reaching a good level of development increased to 72%, higher than regional and national averages.

·  Key stage 2 performance has not returned to the post-pandemic levels when performance in the combined reading, writing and maths (RWM) was higher than national and regional. This year, the percentage of pupils achieving this measure rose from 58% to 60%, higher than the southwest average of 58% but lower than the national average of 61%.

·  Key stage 4 attainment in grades 9 - 5 English and Maths and in Attainment 8 is once again higher than regional and national averages. This is to be commended.

·  B&NES A Level results were higher in all measures than regional and national measures.

·  Children with SEN support needs and those with an EHCP in KS4 have educational outcomes that are marginally higher than national. In KS2, attainment has generally been in line with or slightly above national; however, this year, it has experienced a slight dip below the national average.

·  KS4 attainment in the FSM cohort remained broadly in line with national. The attainment gap in B&NES does not widen in secondary education, and their KS4 outcomes align with national for this group.

·  Despite a slight improvement in EYFS and KS2 FSM outcomes, attainment within this cohort remains in the bottom quartile compared to all local authorities in England. Attainment is currently ranked 16^th lowest at EYFS and 6th lowest at KS2, showing progress from previously being ranked 3rd lowest and the lowest in the country, respectively, in 2022/23. However, the disparity between our area and the national average in terms of the percentage of FSM children meeting the expected standard in KS2 RWM remains substantial, at 33% and 46%, respectively.

·  B&NES, as a partner in the structures that govern a highly academised area, remains committed to playing its part in improving outcomes for our most disadvantaged group of children. We continue to fund and deliver projects in hand with the St John's Foundation and with partners, such as Black Families Education Support Group, in the early years and all schools.

·  Alongside these existing commitments, the council is now looking at a wider approach to improving disadvantaged education outcomes. As previously presented to the scrutiny panel, our Public Health team are leading this work and their final report and action plan will be presented later today.

Councillor Dave Harding asked if the data could be divided into specific areas of the Council to show any elements of rural deprivation. He also asked if the data could be categorised to show the performance of those young people who are also Young Carers.

The Director of Education & Safeguarding replied that he did not have to hand the data relating to Young Carers and said that the data is not yet broken down geographically, but it was in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87