Agenda item

School Improvement and Governance Strategy (revised version) 2016

[Alex Jones, Assistant Director – School Standards, to present updated report on the School Improvement and Governance Strategy]

Minutes:

Alex Jones, Assistant Director – School Standards, introduced the report and gave an overview of those parts of the strategy which had been updated since the previous draft was published in September 2014.

 

The Assistant Director commented on the positive impact of the strategy in improving school performance. The number of schools in the City judged to be good or better by Ofsted have increased from 63% (September 2013) to 79% (April 2016). The Assistant Director is hopeful that this figure will increase to 81% when the next Ofsted results are published.

 

The panel queried the difference in the process described in paragraph 3.4. and 2.2 in the School Improvement and Governance Strategy when a school has concerns about the performance of an academy. The Assistant Director confirmed that the reference in 2.2 is incorrect and will be changed to state that the local authority can raise concerns with the Regional Schools Commissioner

 

The Assistant Director commented that unvalidated key stage 2 data results will be published in September 2016 and the validated results in January 2017.

 

The Assistant Director commented on the current structure of team providing support to primary and secondary schools in Wolverhampton.The size of the team has been reduced significantly over time. The Assistant Director explained that academies can buy in support services needed from the school improvement team

 

The panel discussed the powers of a local authority to intervene where there are concerns about the performance of a school. The Assistant Director commented that a number of schools have been issued with warning notices about their performance in the last two years, in addition the local authority has used it powers to replace six school governing bodies. The Assistant Director reassured the panel that the service is willing to take robust action where there are concerns of the educational performance of a school. The strategic responsibilities of the local authority to improve schools are detailed in the Educational and Inspections Act 2006.

 

The panel discussed the local authority’s relationship with academies. The Assistant Director explained the progress made to improve working relationships with academies and an acceptance of importance to engaging with them. Academies are responsible for teaching 40,000 Wolverhampton children and the local authority has responsibility for child and is held accountable for the results.

 

The Assistant Director commented that the local authority has a good relationship with the Regional Schools Commissioner. The Assistant Director briefed the panel on work done to support schools considering setting up multi-agency trust and proactive work done with other academies, such as the British Sikh School.

 

The Assistant Director commented on current vacancies for school governors.  Academies do not have to appoint school governors and are registered company. The details of the board should be published on records at Companies House.

 

The panel discussed the opportunity for young people to get involved in the governance of their school. The Assistant Director explained that pupils have the option of joining the school council and the local authority encourages schools to listen to their voice when making decisions.

 

The panel welcomed the report and supported the recommendations.

 

Resolved

            The panel support the revised School Improvement and Governance Strategy document.

Supporting documents: