Issue - meetings

Report DCYP12048

The Portfolio Holder introduced the twelfth in a series of updates from the Director CYP on the policy developments within the Government’s reform programme for education and wider children’s services.  The report featured an update on the academy programme, developments within Bromley and the strategic implications for the Council.

Officers highlighted the conversion to academy status of The Priory School and Hillside Primary School.  The Priory had been formally issued with an Academy Order by the Secretary of State on 15 February 2012, with a planned conversion date of 1 May 2012; Hillside Primary School would be converting to academy status under a sponsored conversion route, with The Priory acting as the sponsor partner following formal discussion including the Department for Education, the Local Authority and Governors.  The Expression of Interest document, the first stage of the sponsored conversion process, was in progress, with the conversion target date of 1 September 2012.  Given the projected deficit for the school at the point of conversion as a sponsored Academy, the Council would be liable for the deficit on conversion; These costs would be met from the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) rather than the Revenue Support Grant (RSG).

In relation to the issue of ending the annual Ofsted Children’s assessment consultation the Chairman sought clarification that the Department had commented on the proposals.  The Director confirmed that a response had been issued. 

Under the changes to the Ofsted judgement categories the Director reported that Bromley fared well in that they had only one school in the new category “requires Improvement”. However the name of that school was still embargoed.

In response to a question from the Chairman, the Director confirmed that both St Olave’s and Newstead Wood Schools had had no exclusions in 2011/12.  She went on to explain that academies were seeking to make alternative provision for pupils at risk of exclusion to avoid the notion of exclusion. From Autumn 2011 schools appeared to be removing pupils by non-admission.

Members were also informed there would be a review of the Behaviour Service on engaging schools.  Another element was Pupil Referral Units (PRU) potentially becoming Academies and the effect that this would have on the service. A report was scheduled on all these issues and would be brought back to the June meeting of the Children and Young People Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee.

With regard to Raising the Participation Age (RPA) the Director had confirmed that although this was introduced by a previous Government, the Coalition Government had not retracted this requirement.  Therefore from summer 2013, it would no longer be possible for 16 year olds to leave education or training and take full-time work.  They would, however be able to choose in which setting they wished to receive their education or training. One of the difficulties for the Local Authority was that it still had responsibility for the commissioning of places for 16-18 year olds but did not have any statutory powers.  The Government had recently launched a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95

Report DCYP12009

The Portfolio Holder introduced the eleventh in a series of updates from the Director of Children and Young People Services (Director CYP) on the policy developments within the Government’s reform programme for education and wider children’s services.  The report featured an update on the academy programme, developments within Bromley and the strategic implications for the Council.

In considering the update, the Chairman commended officers on the quality of this report. He also welcomed the publication of the National Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation Action Plan.  The National Plan for Music Education was also highlighted.

The Vice-Chairman requested an update on the Paxton Academy Free School proposal.  The Director CYP confirmed that the initial bid by a parent group to establish a 2 form of entry, 3-18 age group Free School in the North West of the Borough had been unsuccessful. However, the proposers were currently in the process of re-applying to the Department for Education to establish the school in September 2013.

In response to a query from a Member regarding the new cross-Government programme to tackle ‘troubled families’ that had been announced on 15^th December 2011, the Director CYP confirmed that £448m would be available over three years to support Local Authorities and partner agencies with this work. Initial indications from the Government announcements suggested 490 families in Bromley met this criterion. Further detailed guidance was pending, however this funding would need to be match-funded by local authorities and would follow a Payment by Results model where the Government would pay up to 40% of local authorities’ costs where families were supported successfully.  A Member noted the range of issues experienced by these families would require a cross-Portfolio response by the Council. The Director CYP advised that initial discussions would be progressed within the Chief Officers’ Executive and in Cabinet. In addition, the Chairman agreed to meet with PDS Chairmen across all Portfolios to consider the Council’s response to this initiative.

In considering the Education Act 2011, a Member highlighted the measure to replace Exclusion Appeal Panels with Review Panels and was concerned regarding the independence of these panels in considering exclusions across the Borough.  With regard to the academies programme, the Vice-Chairman queried when schools would qualify for a forced conversion to academy status.  The Director CYP confirmed that under the new Ofsted Inspection Framework for schools those Local Authority maintained schools rated ‘satisfactory’ could now be considered for academy conversion if further improvement was not made.

A Member noted the revised School Admissions and Appeals Codes, which had been published on 2^nd November 2011, and queried how the measure to give greater freedom to good, successful schools to increase the number of places they offer to children in their area would impact school place planning.  The Director CYP confirmed that under the Education Act (2011) the Local Authority was responsible for the strategic planning of places. The Council’s policy had always been to expand the most successful schools when further places were required. However,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62