Agenda item

7.              

FUTURE OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AND THE LEARN SHEFFIELD COMMISSION

7.1

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Education and Skills which provided the committee with a summary of the Learn Sheffield commissioning arrangements and outlined potential recommendations for next steps following the commission end date.

7.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Education, Children and Families Policy Committee:-

(a)      Note the work currently undertaken by Learn Sheffield, the changes in Government guidance and the decision taken by Schools Forum regarding funding for school improvement;

(b)      Endorse further work being undertaken to develop option 3, noting the risk areas and mitigations needed if the commission ceases or is significantly changed;

(c)    Note the circumstances that would require SCC to resign as the Supervising Authority of the school company; and

(d)    Agree to seek agreement from School Forum to de-delegate funds from school budgets to provide a service co-created with school leaders (such agreement to come into effect should option 3 ultimately be agreed by the Committee).

7.3

Reasons for Decision

7.3.1

Developing Option 3 will allow SCC to move towards delivering services directly to its maintained schools. This would enable SCC to:

-       Make more effective use of a significantly reduced resource

-       Know its schools better

-       Allocate limited resources more appropriately

-       Build stronger relationships with school leaders and governors

-       Ensure support, challenge and intervention is better matched to need and provided in a more timely way

-       Better coordinate and integrate school improvement services with other services provided by the council such as inclusion and SEND

-       Have more confidence they are fulfilling their core school improvement activities

7.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

7.4.1

The Council must make suitable arrangements to delivery statutory services to maintained schools following the end of the grant funding period, and the options are detailed in paragraphs 1.15 – 1.23 above.

7.              

FUTURE OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AND THE LEARN SHEFFIELD COMMISSION

7.1

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Education and Skills which provided the committee with a summary of the Learn Sheffield commissioning arrangements and outlined potential recommendations for next steps following the commission end date.

7.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Education, Children and Families Policy Committee:-

(a)      Note the work currently undertaken by Learn Sheffield, the changes in Government guidance and the decision taken by Schools Forum regarding funding for school improvement;

(b)      Endorse further work being undertaken to develop option 3, noting the risk areas and mitigations needed if the commission ceases or is significantly changed;

(c)    Note the circumstances that would require SCC to resign as the Supervising Authority of the school company; and

(d)    Agree to seek agreement from School Forum to de-delegate funds from school budgets to provide a service co-created with school leaders (such agreement to come into effect should option 3 ultimately be agreed by the Committee).

7.3

Reasons for Decision

7.3.1

Developing Option 3 will allow SCC to move towards delivering services directly to its maintained schools. This would enable SCC to:

-       Make more effective use of a significantly reduced resource

-       Know its schools better

-       Allocate limited resources more appropriately

-       Build stronger relationships with school leaders and governors

-       Ensure support, challenge and intervention is better matched to need and provided in a more timely way

-       Better coordinate and integrate school improvement services with other services provided by the council such as inclusion and SEND

-       Have more confidence they are fulfilling their core school improvement activities

7.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

7.4.1

The Council must make suitable arrangements to delivery statutory services to maintained schools following the end of the grant funding period, and the options are detailed in paragraphs 1.15 – 1.23 above.