Agenda item

Improvements in Key Stages in Schools and Academies 2013

Minutes:

6.1

Maggie Williams, Deputy Executive Director, Pauline Anderson, Strategic Lead – Primary, and Matt Percival, Secondary Lead Headteacher, Children, Young People and Families, provided an update on improvements in Key Stages in schools and academies in 2013. 

 

 

6.2

A paper was circulated, containing information and statistics in terms of the attainment and it was reported that the full national data would not be available until mid/late-October 2013, when a detailed report would be submitted to this Committee and, in terms of key statistics, it was noted that:-

 

 

 

·                Sheffield should be ranked no lower than 102nd in line with disadvantage measure.

 

 

 

·                Key Stage 1 – Improvement in all measures on 2012 results, with the exception of Level 3 writing, which has stayed the same.

 

 

 

·                Key Stage 2 – in 2012 ranked 99th out of 152 local authorities (subsequent issue regarding children in one school had resulted in a move down) to 117th.  86%, 92% and 88% of pupils had made good progress in reading, writing and maths, respectively.

 

 

 

·                Key Stage 4 (GCSEs) – Sheffield continued its improvement trajectory with a 1.4% increase on 2012 outcomes.

 

 

 

·                Key Stage 5 – A number of schools have significantly increased the proportion of students gaining AAB grades.

 

 

 

·                Two secondary schools were below the Government’s national floor standards (both academies).

 

 

 

·                Nine primary schools below the Government’s national floor standards at Key Stage 2.

 

 

6.3

Members of the Committee raised questions and the following responses were provided:-

 

 

 

·                The nine primary schools which were below the Government’s national floor standards at Key Stage 2 were Byron Wood, Greenlands Junior, Mansel (Academy), Shortbrook, Southey Green (Academy), Springfield, St. Patrick’s (Academy), Valley Park and Watercliffe Meadows.

 

 

 

·                The improvements in attainment over the past six years had not been a ‘quick fix’, but as a result of a systematic year on year improvement.  One of the main reasons for the improvement was due to the leadership changes in a number of schools and as a result of this, as well as other changes, including how well schools had worked with each other and the actions of school governors, it was considered that such improvements in attainment would be sustainable in the City in forthcoming years.

 

 

 

·                Whilst there had been an improved performance in terms of attainment levels at Key Stage 4 for the sixth consecutive year, it was difficult to explain the reasons behind why there had been a decline in attainment levels at nine of the 25 secondary schools.  It was accepted that there was always going to be varying standards in terms of academic cohorts in different years and this could have been the reason for the decline.

 

 

 

·                Further “descriptive analysis” around the data was requested, along with data on Sheffield College and the University Technical Colleges, and which would be set out in the more detailed report to be submitted to the Committee’s meeting in December, 2013.

 

 

 

·                Whilst there was draft data available in terms of a comparison in attainment levels between the different categories of schools in the City, it was not in such a format which could be published at the present time, but would be included in the detailed report to be submitted to the Committee’s meeting in December 2013.

 

 

 

·                Under the new Government legislation, the City Council had limited, but clear powers in terms of what action it could take to help improve results.  These included the power to advocate on behalf of every pupil, particularly vulnerable pupils, and to focus on those schools causing concern.

 

 

 

·                Details of who would advocate on behalf of those pupils attending independent schools in the City would be forwarded to Members of the Committee.

 

 

6.4

It was reported that Maggie Williams would be retiring on 19th September, 2013, after seven years’ service with the City Council.

 

 

6.5

RESOLVED: That the Committee:-

 

 

 

(a)       notes the contents of the paper now circulated, together with the additional information reported on attainment levels in respect of all Key Stages in schools and academies in the City in 2013;

 

 

 

(b)       welcomes the overall improvement in terms of attainment levels across all of the Key Stages;

 

 

 

(c)        requests that a detailed report on attainment levels be submitted to its meeting to be held in December 2013; and

 

 

 

(d)       expresses its thanks and appreciation to Maggie Williams, Deputy Executive Director – Children, Young People and Families Portfolio, for the valuable work carried out by her during the last seven years.

 

 

 

(NOTE: In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 26 of the Council’s Constitution and the provisions of Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, the Chair decided that the above item be considered as a matter of urgency to enable Members to be updated in terms of attainment levels in the interim period, prior to the detailed report being submitted to the Committee in December 2013.)