Agenda item

(To receive a report from Martin Smith, Assistant Director – Education, Matt Spoors, Head of Service – School Standards, and Nicky Myers, Interim Head of Service – Early Years and Childcare Support on school performances in Lincolnshire for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYRS), Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2, and Key Stage 4. The Committee is invited to review the outcomes for the academic year 2022/23).

During this item, Councillor A Baxter declared a personal interest as his daughters had attended a maintained grammar school.

Consideration was given to a report by Nicky Myers, Interim Head of Service for Early Years and Childcare Support and Matt Spoors, Head of Service for Schools Standards, which set out the school performance in Lincolnshire for Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 4 for the academic year 2022/23, as referenced in the report at pages 15 to 24 of the agenda pack.

Officers were pleased with the results and commended the performance outcomes at all stages of education, however they were not complacent, and highlighted three ongoing projects which would support learning: early reading into KS1, strengthening leadership and SEND leadership development.

Officers were confident that improvements to educational outcomes in Lincolnshire’s education settings would continue and were pleased to report that Ofsted outcomes were catching up with national averages.

During the discussion, the following points were recorded:

·   Some members expressed disappointment with the high level of data included within the report and wished to see data to support statements to allow an informed judgement to be made. Officers clarified that the format of the report had evolved over time alongside the change in responsibilities with regards to the council’s influence of school policies and procedures and curriculum content, as each individual school was now responsible for implementing and analysing its own decisions on curriculum. However, Officers were supportive of including more granular data should the Committee wish to receive it.

·   Members raised concerns over reference to  grammar schools and their impact the performance of Lincolnshire’s education sector. Many members did not support the statements made and expressed caution about the language used, whilst highlighting the importance of encouraging young people with high achievements to stay within Lincolnshire post education. Officers acknowledged the concerns raised over the language used and would ensure the concerns were reflected going forward.

·   It was acknowledged that many young people chose to go to University outside of Lincolnshire, although there were opportunities for apprenticeships and careers within the engineering sector. It was hoped that the medical school would help provide further opportunities.

·   The improvements in performance for Early Years Foundation Stage were welcomed.

·   Members requested clarity on the comparison between attendance and attainment, which was not clear within the table shown at paragraph g within the report. Officers agreed to provide further explanation in future reports.

·   The importance of championing all children no matter whether they attended a grammar school, maintained school or academy was highlighted by the Committee in relation to statements made within the report. Officers provided assurance that the Council would strive to identify and utilise every opportunity provided to support the improvement of both academies and maintained schools.

·   The Committee was reassured that many educational settings were evolving with innovative ways to ensure that SEND schools could be well supported and meet the demand within mainstream settings, which was known to lead to better outcomes.

·   In terms of performance of the districts at KS2 and KS4, all districts had shown improvement in school performance. A breakdown of the performance for each locality could be provided if requested.

·   A targeted list of schools requiring further support had been identified. All activities carried out to support schools were targeted to settings or schools that required it to ensure improvements were made in the right areas.

RESOLVED

1.       That in reviewing the report, assurance be given to the outcomes for Lincolnshire schools for the academic year 2022/23.

2.       That schools be commended for the results achieved in 2022/23.

3.       That a briefing paper be circulated to the Committee which clarifies points identified in the discussion, including

·       More data to support the statements made around grammar schools and the impact on the performance of Lincolnshire’s education Sector

·        A breakdown of performance at district level for KS2 and KS4

·       More data to support the comparison between attendance and attainment.

·       More data to support the evidence statements made around academies vs maintained schools, and & SEND vs non-SEND.