Agenda item

(To receive a presentation from Martin Smith, Children's Service Manager – School Standards, which will provide the Committee with an explanation of the sector-led model for school improvement; and also provide an update on the progress made with implementation of the model)

The Committee received a presentation from Martin Smith, Children's Services Manager School Standards, which provided the Committee with an explanation of the sector-led model for school improvement; and also provided an update on the progress made in implementing the model.

The presentation made reference to the background behind the Sector-Led approach in Lincolnshire.  It was highlighted that the local authority was now one of a range of partners who together were supporting school improvement. The partners included teaching schools, the Lincolnshire Learning Partnership (LLP), the Diocese of Lincoln, school clusters, Multi-Academy Trusts; and individual schools and academies.

It was noted that the picture nationally was that local authorities who were coping best were finding new ways of maintaining dialogue with schools; thinking about functions that brought in key partners at middle tier level; developing governance mechanisms and processes that covered their whole area; and understanding the new role of the local authority to achieve local connectivity.

The Committee was advised of the composition and role of the Local Authority (LA) and the Lincolnshire Learning Partnership.  Reference was also made to the commitment of the Lincolnshire Learning Partnership Board to ensure that no school was more important than an individual child's needs; and to the commitment expected from schools in contributing to support each other to improve and share knowledge to ensure that no school failed.  The Committee was advised that currently 340 schools had signed up to being part of the LLP; and further information was provided to the positive impact of the LLP to date.

A short video was provided to the Committee concerning the work of the Teaching Schools Alliance; and the Mobilise Choice System.

In conclusion, the Committee was advised that for 2017/18; further clarity would be developed around the function of the LLP Board, and its governance and role within the emerging system to ensure that relationships were explored further between the Lincolnshire Teaching School Together, the Lincolnshire Learning Partnership and the Council to ensure transparency of roles moving forward.

Following a question raised by a member in relation to the role of the Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) with regard to private schools, the Committee was advised that the RSC had no role in private schools but had a role with state funded schools.  The Committee was advised further that the role of the RSC was to act on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education and act as a middle tier between academies and free schools.  Some of the RSCs responsibilities included: taking action where academies and free schools were underperforming; deciding on applications from local authority maintained schools to convert to academy status; and improving underperforming maintained schools by providing them with support from an Academy sponsor.  It was also highlighted that the RSC had no direct relationship with Ofsted.

During discussion, the Committee raised the following points:-

·         One member felt that it was important to ensure that the service was equipped to meet changing demands.  Officers reassured that this had already been discussed at Head Teacher briefings; and with the sector led model, schools were now able to influence the agenda to cope with change;

·         One member highlighted that it would be useful for the Committee to have further information on the peer reviews.  Officers advised that the peer reviews had been well received; and that it was apparent that the development of middle leadership in schools was an area to be developed further;

·         A concern was raised as to whether any more could be done to reduce the number of exclusions.  Officers advised that steps were already being taken with regard to this matter, with particular reference being made to closer working with some secondary schools.  Overall, the direction of travel was positive;

·         A question was asked as to whether schools had confidence in commissioning with regard to the sports premium.  Officers reassured that what was delivered locally met the required needs.  Confirmation was given that the market met the need for the sports premium;

·         One member highlighted that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nottingham were taking an active role in the partnership.  Officers agreed that the information provided needed amending to reflect this participation;

·         A member enquired as to what was a teaching school.  Officers advised the Committee that a teaching school was a school which had been designated by the Department for Education as a strong school with capacity and expertise to support others.  Other schools then joined the teaching school to give and receive support from other schools.  It was noted that schools were responsible for their own improvement and that schools brought training and professional development from other schools;

·         Some concern was raised with regard to the loss of highly trained and skilled young people out of Lincolnshire.  The Committee noted that the economic concerns for this issue was the responsibility of Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.  It was highlighted that a lot of work was being undertaken with regard to apprenticeships.  It was further highlighted that some Councillors were going to be visiting schools to share their experiences.  Some reference was also made to the Apprenticeship Levy and its impact on employers;

·         Some members extended their support to the emerging model, but a question was asked as to whether as a result of Academisation, had Lincolnshire currently got the right educational offer for young people in the right place, as in some areas, it would appear that educational provision was lacking.  The Committee was advised that the local authority could no longer open up new educational provision as all new schools needed to be Free Schools/Academies.  It was also noted that small secondary schools could sometimes find it challenging to provide a full secondary school curriculum with challenges in staff recruitment.  Clarification was given that it was up to academies or new educational providers, working with the Community to apply for Free Schools in their area, not the local authority.  An explanation of the process of Academisation was briefly explained to the Committee.  One member expressed concern regarding a local school; and the committee suggested that the member should speak to the church representative outside of the meeting;

·         A question was asked as to whether sport was offered in all schools.  Officers clarified that the LA did not gather this level of data; the LA considered a school's performance based on its results and other national datasets.  The Committee was advised that the LA only had access to data that was publicly available for Academies; and

·         A request was also made for some Signs of Safety Analysis to be presented to the Committee.

RESOLVED

That the presentation on the Sector-Led School Improvement Model be received.