Agenda item

(To receive a report which enables the Committee to consider the outcomes from the School Improvement Working Group)

Consideration was given to a report which provided the Committee with an opportunity to consider the outcomes from the School Improvement Working Group.

It was reported that at the meeting of this Committee held on 28 November 2014, it was agreed that a working group would be established to look at School Improvement.  Following consideration of a report by the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee on 24 April 2015 which was subsequently agreed by the Executive on 5 May 2015 on the Future Delivery of the School Improvement Service, the remit of the working group was changed to focus on the risks and benefits of the new model for school improvement which would replace the existing CfBT contract.

The new model would be a sector led approach which would establish a collaborative Lincolnshire Learning Partnership which would deliver a tiered approach to School Improvement including peer review, quality assurance and appropriate governance arrangements.

Members were advised that a number of meetings with officers from CfBT and Children's Services had been held to gain an understanding of the existing CfBT offer and the new sector led model.  The Working Group analysed the new sector led model using the Signs of Safety approach.

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

·         This would be the introduction of a new culture, and with this there would always be a counter culture, which would need to be managed carefully;

·         There may be more opportunity to look at governors supporting this model and they could be supported;

·         The working group spoke to a lot of people, and it was commented that there were some things which would need to be watched for when implementing the new model and it was suggested that the group should meet every so often in an informal manner with Heather Sandy;

·         There had been a lot of new information for the working group to work through, and it was thought that there would be a need for regular reviews by this Committee;

·         It was thought that the report did not reflect the amount of meetings which had taken place or the information discussed;

·         It was requested that a report on how the action plan would be implemented be brought back to the meeting in March;

·         Members of the working group thanked Tracy Johnson, Senior Scrutiny Officer for all her work with the group and in ensuring that the group had all the information they needed;

·         It was noted that the new model had not yet commenced, and had only been through consultation.  There would be a launch in February 2016 with Head Teachers.  It was requested that the members of the Working Group be invited to the launch.

RESOLVED

1.    That the comments made in relation to the outcomes of the School Improvement Working Group be noted;

2.    That a further report from the Working Group be brought to the march meeting;

3.    That the Committee receive six monthly updates on the implementation of the new sector led model for school improvement.