Agenda item

(To receive a report which provides the Committee with information in relation to the Stamford Endowed Schools Scholarship Tapering scheme)

Consideration was given to a report which provided an interim review of the Stamford Endowed Schools Scholarship Tapering Scheme.  The Committee was advised that in 2006, the Executive agreed to taper the number of Lincolnshire County Council Scholarships to the Stamford Endowed Schools so that from 2012, there would be no new scholarships.  It was also confirmed that the political process had required a four yearly review of educational provision for secondary school pupils in the Stamford are to consider impact.  This report was presented to take account of the 2014 results which were published at the end of January 2015.

The principal objective of the review was to ascertain the extent to which suitable education was provided for academically able students in the Stamford area as the number of Lincolnshire County Council scholarships to the Stamford Endowed Schools was reduced.

It was announced in June 2014 by the Department for Education that The Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust (CMAT) had agreed to take over the running of Stamford Queen Eleanor School as Stamford Welland Academy.  Anthony Partington, Principal of Stamford Welland Academy and Mark Woods, Executive Principal of Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust were in attendance and provided the Committee with a presentation which outlined the changes which had taken place at the school since it became Stamford Welland Academy.  The presentation provided further detail in relation to the following areas:

·         The case for change;

·         Who are we;

·         Transition process;

·         The first few months:

·         Core purpose;

·         House Offices – First Point of contact – The Hub;

·         Curriculum;

·         Session 6 and PLEDGES;

·         Ofsted;

·         The future.

Members of the Committee were provided with the opportunity to ask questions to the officers present in relation to the information contained in the report and presentation and some of the points raised during discussion included the following:

·         Staff had worked hard to put together both academic and after school provision to provide the 'complete parallel curriculum' at Stamford Welland Academy;

·         Members were supportive of the Academy and pleased that all students would be catered for;

·         Strong leadership was considered important;

·         Most of the children attending the Stamford Endowed School as part of the scholarship scheme were from Stamford and were not entitled to home to school transport assistance.  A criteria for being accepted was that pupils must live within 3 miles of the school;

·         Members were pleased that parents in Stamford would still have a choice of which school to send their child to;

·         It was noted that vocational courses in schools were still important;

·         Members were advised that the Stamford Welland Academy aim was to provide a broad and balanced curriculum and would maintain the vocational element;

·         The Stamford Welland Academy still had a number of students who were at the grade C/D borderline and below.  There was a wish to extend the courses in technology areas, such as engineering, and the school would be looking into working with engineering firms in relation to apprenticeships;

·         Most of the pupil premium received was spent on staffing for students to have additional support or additional lessons;

·         Some students were accessing extra maths lessons, especially Year 11 students.  There was a lot of energy focused on Year 11 as well as Year 7;

·         Members were informed that the Stamford Welland Academy also had a lot of Services children, and so were providing transport facilities so that they could access after school activities;

·         Members were pleased to hear that the Stamford Welland Academy was planning to expand on the practical side of education such as the Arts, as it was important that students had access to practical subjects;

·         The Stamford Welland Academy had a history of being very strong in technology areas, particularly design and fashion.  Stamford was developing a reputation for media and creative industries;

·         In terms of extra-curricular activities, it was positive that those children who were not as academically gifted as others were encouraged to become involved in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme;

·         Members were encouraged by the enthusiasm of the senior staff at CMAT to provide the best education experience, but urged them to continue to encourage students to become involved in the arts as it was felt that this could help with building confidence as well as developing the person as a whole.  Members were informed that a House system had been implemented and the Arts subjects were spread across the different Houses, as it was believed that arts and sports underpinned the academic side of learning;

·         CMAT did not currently include any primary schools in Stamford, but it worked closely with a number of local primary schools, including the sharing of teachers, and allowing primary schools to use the School's minibus when it was not in use;

·         Staff at Stamford Welland Academy were working to ensure that community knew that the most gifted students could be catered for, and was a school for those that were aspirational;

·         There were currently 124 pupils on roll at Stamford Endowed School under the scholarship scheme, at a cost of £923,000 for 2014/15.  It was highlighted that reduction of the scheme would not make that saving as the pupils would still need to be educated elsewhere.  Taking this into account, as well as the local authority costs, the costs difference was not as great as considered;

·         It was noted that this scholarship scheme was funded by the Dedicated Schools Budget.  It was agreed by the Lincolnshire Schools' Forum that the existing contracts would be honoured.  However, these costs would reduce to £657,000 in 2015/16 and £300,000 in 2016/17;

·         The latest Ofsted report for Casterton Business and Enterprise College, an alternative secondary provision for Stamford, was that it required improvement.  The inspection was carried out in November 2014 and the report was published in December 2014;

·         CMAT had made use of the Children's University in its other locations;

·         In terms of uniform policy, the Stamford Welland Academy would gradually change to a new uniform which would comprise a blazer, tie, shirt and skirt or trousers;

·         It was commented that it was not believed that 'one size fits all' in terms of education, and members were given confidence regarding the school as the senior management team were aware of the differing needs of children;

·         Following on from the recent launch of the All-Age Autism Strategy, assurance was sought by Members that the needs of children with autism would be adequately met by the Stamford Welland Academy.  Members were advised that the Nene Park Academy in Peterborough, which was part of CMAT, had enhanced provision for autism with specialist staff that supported autistic students.  Training was also provided for all staff in relation to autism;

·         Members were unhappy that more detailed information in relation to numbers of pupils that transferred from Stamford Primary Schools to Casterton was not available at the meeting, but officers could provide that information to Members after the meeting if necessary.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Cambridge Meridian Academies Trust and Casterton Business and Enterprise College as the principal providers of state funded secondary education to the Stamford community be noted;

2.    That the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee confirm that it considered that the Stamford community had access to appropriate secondary education in accordance with Lincolnshire County Council's duties under the Education Act, 1966.