Agenda item
Cabinet Member Update
The Cabinet Member will update the Panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions on the update provided.
Minutes:
Councillor Michael Evans, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services addressed the Panel, a summary is set out below.
School Performance
I would like to preface my remarks by making clear my belief that our teachers work hard and that in my opinion teaching is a uniquely stressful occupation. I feel it is part of my job to point out where I would hope for better.
“At national average” has to be the general impression of these results. EYFS and KS1 – national average. KS2 varied, roughly national average. KS4 above national average, it is very pleasing to read. KS5 at national average.
The usual theme that I find in the BANES results is evidence that the higher ability child is relatively unchallenged. This year it is disappointing to read that at KS1 the proportion of pupils working at greater depth is now below national average, and at A level the percentage of students achieving three A*-A or better is slightly below national average, and a fair bit below the national average for the south west.
BANES is a relatively affluent area and we should be aiming to achieve above the national average at all levels. Let’s remember that the national average is low compared with other developed countries.
At KS4 the message should be: find out what Norton Hill and Somervale are doing, and copy. Their attainment scores are good and their Progress 8 figures are a clear cut above.
Devolution and 16-19 Education
One consequence of yesterday’s decision by BANES, Bristol and South Gloucestershire Councils to go ahead with the deal to create the West of England Combined Authority is that responsibility and finance for 16-19 education will be devolved. This should make it easier to ensure that the courses offered meet employers’ needs and give our young people a good chance of gaining employment locally.
Children’s Centres / Children’s Services
The options listed in the report seek to preserve the services to vulnerable children and families while looking to transfer council-owned children’s centre buildings to other bodies. There is interest from suitable bodies for all the buildings. The services in the future may be run from the same buildings or from other community buildings.
Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children
We now have 10 UASC, and more are expected as a result of the clearing of the Calais camp. The Council is likely to have to finance about half the cost of looking after these children.
Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership Primary School
Planning permission for the housing development and school in Mendip on the edge of Midsomer Norton has been refused. The Partnership is now in discussion with stakeholders, including BANES, on finding another site. They still intend to open the new Free School, but this planning refusal will delay it by at least a year. Meanwhile BANES will need to make arrangements for a bulge year in local primary provision. Normally when this happens, there is an attempt to give the school a legacy building, rather than just installing a portable classroom, and I hope that will prove possible in this case.
Early Years Settings
A good news story: research shows that Early Years Settings which have a qualified teacher on the staff have 10% better outcomes than those that don’t. BANES comes in the top 10% of all local authorities for this resource.
Secondary School Admissions
As has been previously reported, BANES needs to prepare for the possible closing of Bath Community Academy, so that all pupils can be accommodated. It is therefore proposing to ask parents to name five choices of secondary school rather than the current three, so that there is less likelihood of all choices being turned down and South Gloucestershire or other out-of-district children taking places at BANES schools like Oldfield, and BANES children being left without a school. The new head of Oldfield is comfortable with this. There has to be a consultation for this change to admissions policy, and this went live on 7th November.
National Social Care Conference
A small party from BANES attended the National Children and Adults Social Care Conference at the beginning of this month, after missing it last year. The partnership theme was prominent, and a lot of interesting and up to date information was gained.
Councillor Liz Hardman expressed her concern for members of the public, particularly parents and pupils from Twerton with regard to Bath Community Academy (BCA). She said that the cancelled open evening could have been opportunity for all concerned to address the situation. She asked if there was yet a timetable for when a decision would be made.
The Strategic Director for People & Communities replied that discussions have been held with Cabot and the Regional Schools Commissioner and that he expected an announcement from the Regional Schools Commissioner to be made soon. He added that the Department for Education has to weigh up the options before a decision can be made.
He stated that the regular admissions deadline of October 31st had passed, but said that should BCA confirm that they will be accepting pupils in September 2017 then an extension of application time will be put in place until the end of December 2016.
Councillor Liz Hardman asked what plans have been considered for current BCA pupils.
The Strategic Director for People & Communities replied that the issue has been raised with other local Secondary Schools.
Councillor Dine Romero said that she was concerned for pupils that attend and have chosen BCA on the basis of its provision and questioned if other schools could provide the same service. She also asked if pupils were currently being turned away if seeking to move within this academic year.
The Strategic Director for People & Communities replied that in terms of specific need that all schools should be able to provide the same level of service. He said that he was not aware of any issues relating to current in year admission requests, but acknowledged that such a request would put the school in a tricky position.
Councillor Dine Romero asked if BCA were to close what effect would there be on the Home to School Transport budget.
The Strategic Director for People & Communities replied that if parents choose to move their children who are currently in Years 7 and 10 to St Mark's School, they will receive free transport should BCA close.
Councillor Dine Romero asked the Cabinet Member if he felt there was a link between pupil performance and the structure of a school.
Councillor Michael Evans replied that he did.
Councillor Liz Hardman asked if he still felt there was a risk that all Children’s Centres could close.
Councillor Michael Evans replied that the current direction of travel was that none were under threat of closure.
The Chairman thanked the Cabinet Member for his update on behalf of the Panel.