Agenda item

9.1

The Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families, submitted a report providing a brief overview in respect of attainment and performance outcomes from Foundation Stage to A Level in the City’s schools and academies.

9.2

In attendance for this item were Iain Peel, Interim Director, Inclusion and Learning Services, Janet Docherty, Interim Head of Learning and Achievement Service and Pam Smith, Strategic Lead – Targeted Intervention, Children, Young People and Families.

9.3

Iain Peel stated that a more detailed report on the attainment statistics, including initial comparisons to national performance and to other local authorities, would be presented at the next meeting of the Committee in November 2014, and went on to highlight the headlines in respect of all the key stages. 

9.4

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

·                In terms of the three schools reported to be below the Government floor standard of 40% in 2014, there had been improvements in the communication links between Sheffield Springs Academy and the local community.  Officers were interested to hear from Members if they were aware of any similar communication issues between the other two schools and their respective local communities.

·                The Local Authority was aware of low attainment levels in respect of AS Levels at some schools and Sheffield College and considered this to be due to the big step up in terms of levels of difficulty from GCSE Level and Members of the Committee suggested that it also had a lot to do with levels of pastoral care and guidance offered.

·                It was not possible to provide details of the key educational outcomes, as broken down by Ward at this point in time, as the National Government dataset was required, and this would not be available until November 2014.

·                It was too early to tell if there was a difference in outcomes between maintained schools and academies. In three to five years, the data would be available in terms of performance trends, so it will be possible to see if there was any difference then.

9.5

RESOLVED: That the Committee:-

(a)       notes the contents of the report now submitted, the comments now made and the responses provided to the questions raised;

(b)       requests that a further report be submitted to its meeting in November 2014, on the attainment statistics for the City, providing an analysis in terms of the available national data/comparators; and

(c)        expresses its thanks and appreciation to Iain Peel, who was leaving the Authority on Friday, 26^th September 2014, to take up a new post at Derby City Council.