Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Kathy Bance MBE and Councillor Peter Fookes attended as her substitute.  Apologies for absence were also received from Councillor Nicky Dykes.  Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Pauline Tunnicliffe, Executive Support Assistant to the Portfolio Holder for Education.

The Chairman noted that Mike Barnes, Sue Mordecai, Janet Heathcote and Helen Fiorini would shortly be leaving the Local Authority and thanked them on behalf of the Members of the Education PDS Committee for the excellent contribution they had made to the London Borough of Bromley over many years.

The Chairman reminded the Committee that the Declarations of Interest made at the meeting on 12^th June 2012 were taken as read

The minutes were agreed subject to the penultimate paragraph of Item 59a: Refresh of the Education Portfolio Plan being amended to read:

“With regard to the aim to ensure pupils with special educational needs have outstanding outcomes, it was noted that the Pathfinder project to provide an integrated pathway for children and young people and their families ensuring a smooth transition to the SEND framework had been extended for a further year.”

A Co-opted Member also confirmed that in relation to Item 59e: Categorisation, Intervention and Support for High Priority Schools in Bromley, Bromley’s early years provision had recently been ranked as the joint third highest performing in the country and not fifth highest as recorded in the minutes.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd January 2013 be agreed.

To hear questions to the Committee received in writing by the Democratic Services Team by 5.00pm on Wednesday 13^th March 2013 and to respond.  Questions must relate to the work of the scrutiny committee.

No questions had been received.

To hear questions to the Portfolio Holder received in writing by the Democratic Services Team by 5.00pm on Wednesday 13^th March 2013 and to respond.  Questions must relate to the work of the Portfolio.

Three written questions were received from members of the public and are attached at Appendix A.  A total of 21 oral questions were also received from Members of the public and these are attached at Appendix B.

The Chairman commented on the high number of questions received and proposed that the Portfolio Holder give a statement in answer to the main themes highlighted by the majority of the questions.  He noted that the time allocated to questions was 15 minutes but, following a vote by the Members of the Committee, this was extended to 30 minutes.  The statement by the Portfolio Holder for Education is attached at Appendix C.

The Portfolio Holder for Education gave an update to Members on work being undertaken across the Education Portfolio.

Applications had been submitted for three free schools in the Borough which might impact the proposed temporary and permanent expansion of places at certain schools.  The Portfolio Holder also confirmed that Harris was seeking to establish an Aspire Unit in the Borough which would provide Behaviour Services provision for secondary-age pupils from both Bromley schools and those outside of the Borough.

Discussions continued with the RC Archdiocese of Southwark around the potential to establish a four form of entry Roman Catholic secondary school in the Borough, and work to identify a suitable site was ongoing.  The Portfolio Holder was keen to encourage the Archdiocese to seek to establish a six form of entry Roman Catholic secondary school to ensure that sufficient places were available to all parents and carers who wanted their children to attend a Roman Catholic secondary school in the Borough.

A consultant had now been recruited to drive forward the academy programme across the Borough and ensure schools had the support they needed to convert to academy status.  The Portfolio Holder noted that a number of primary and secondary schools were actively engaged in developing academy umbrella trusts and cluster groups.  A Member highlighted the need to ensure that schools were supported to join appropriate cluster groups where appropriate. 

The Children’s Champion outlined her cross-Portfolio role to Members of the Committee and noted the broad scope of work undertaken during 2012-13 to ensure vulnerable children across the Borough had the support they needed to thrive.  A Member highlighted the benefits of early intervention to realise the best outcomes for children and young people, and noted that the cost of early intervention services was often lower than the more intensive services needed after issues had escalated.  Another Member underlined the need to ensure the support needs of vulnerable children and young people continued to be monitored if they moved out of Borough.  A Co-opted Member requested that early years be included as a priority area for the Children’s Champion in the new municipal year.

In response to a request from the Children’s Champion, the Assistant Director Education outlined changes to the SEN Statement Policy and advised Members that funding for children with high incidence, low level statements would be included within school budgets from 1^st April 2013, allowing schools to take a more flexible approach to funding support for these children.  Education, Health and Care Plans would take a more holistic approach to identifying the support needs of children and young people with more complex needs and these would be piloted from April 2013.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder update and Children’s Champion update be noted.

The Education Portfolio Holder to present scheduled reports for pre-decision scrutiny on matters where he is minded to make decisions.

Report ED13042

The Portfolio Holder introduced a report outlining a LA Governor appointment to a school in the Borough.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to approve the following LA Governor appointment, subject to CRB checks:

Report ED130028

The Portfolio Holder introduced a report summarising the outcomes from consultations undertaken on the proposal to restructure Bromley Road Infant School from a three forms of entry Infant School to a one form of entry primary school from September 2014, and a proposal to restructure Worsley Bridge Junior School from a three forms of entry junior school to a two forms of entry primary school from September 2014.  Bromley Road Infant School and Worsley Bridge Junior School were currently ‘linked’ schools with automatic pupil transfer. 

The consultations for the proposed changes to school organisation had run from 11^th January to 15^th February 2013, and produced 46 Bromley Road responses and 23 Worsley Bridge responses which were largely supportive of the proposals.  The Governing Bodies and School Councils for both schools also supported the proposed changes to school organisation.

Councillor Michael Tickner, Ward Councillor for Copers Cope noted that there were a number of benefits to the proposed changes to school organisation including strengthened leadership and management across key stages, continuity of curriculum organisation and pupil assessment and consistent governance across both schools.  He was however concerned at the cost of adapting the schools to support the proposed changes to school organisation, and also noted that Bromley Road would be vulnerable to staffing changes as a one form of entry primary school. 

In response, the Portfolio Holder for Education underlined the present disruption to pupils in transferring between two schools sited three-quarters of a mile apart when moving into Key Stage 2, and confirmed that funding to adapt the schools would come from the suitability budget.  The Vice-Chairman noted that the response to the consultation had been largely supportive of the proposals and highlighted the educational benefits to children through the more diverse curriculum offer of a primary school. 

A Member was concerned at the sustainability of one form of entry primary schools, particularly under the new schools funding formula.  He also noted the difficulties in recruiting headteachers to lead smaller primary schools.  The Assistant Director: Education advised the Committee that the Schools’ Finance Team had undertaken a great deal of work on the financial position of Bromley Road Infant School as a one form of entry primary school over the next five years, and had confirmed that it would be viable.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to:

1)  Note Members’ comments regarding the outcome of the consultations;

2)  Agree the proposed change of age range at Bromley Road Infant School and Worsley Bridge Junior School so that both schools become all-through Primary Schools with effect from 1^st September 2014; and,

3)  Authorise Officers to undertake the formal statutory processes for the restructuring of a school.

Report ED13029

The Portfolio Holder introduced a report summarising the outcomes from the consultation undertaken on the proposal to permanently expand Keston CE Primary School from 30 to 60 pupils at Year Reception (the year children start school) from September 2014. 

The consultation for the proposed permanent expansion of the school had run from 11^th January to 15^th February 2013, and produced 136 responses of which 28 were in support.  The responses received and the comments made to a Consultation meeting held on 17^th January 2013 showed significant opposition to the proposal, primarily on the grounds of access and parking.  The Governing Body arrived at a ‘majority decision to support the proposal’ on educational and financial grounds whilst acknowledging that there were access and parking issues to be addressed in conjunction with the Local Authority.

In considering the proposed expansion of Keston CE Primary School, the following Motion to amend the recommendations of the report was proposed by Councillor Alexa Michael and seconded by Councillor David McBride:

“That this Committee recommends the Portfolio Holder to agree expansion for an additional ‘bulge’ year of one form of entry for the academic year 2013/14 and that the Portfolio Holder be requested to give serious consideration to alternate school sites for permanent expansion.”

On being put to the vote the Motion was CARRIED. 

Members considered the proposed expansion of Keston CE Primary School for an additional ‘bulge’ year of one form of entry for the academic year 2013/14.

In considering the proposal, the Portfolio Holder for Education highlighted the significant demand for school places at Keston CE Primary School and noted that 178 applications had already been received for the 30 existing available places in Reception for 2013/14.

Councillor Alexa Michael, Ward Councillor for Bromley Common and Keston agreed that there was a need for more school places across the Borough but noted that many parents and carers were attracted to the ‘small school’ ethos of Keston CE Primary School as a one form of entry primary school. There were also a number of key local issues that would have to be addressed prior to any permanent expansion of the school, such as the accessibility of the school and traffic management.  Councillor Alexa Michael underlined that the Unitary Development Plan of the Local Authority stated that new development would normally be resisted for those developments that would substantially increase traffic on roads that were not part paved, as was the case in the area around Keston CE Primary School.

Another Member was concerned that the scope of the Portfolio Holder for Education’s decision was required to be based purely on educational grounds, and noted the need to involve other members of the Executive in the decision making process to ensure that the full implications of any expansion on both the school and the local community were considered before the final decision was made.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to:

1)  Note Members’ comments regarding the outcome of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72c

Report ED13030

The Portfolio Holder introduced a report summarising the outcomes from the consultation undertaken on the proposal to expand The Glebe School to admit 16 additional children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at Year 7 each year from September 2014.

The consultation for the proposed permanent expansion of the school had run from 11^th January to 15^th February 2013, and produced 36 responses which were largely supportive of the proposals.  The Governing Body also supported the proposed changes to school organisation, as did the School Council, which accepted the reasons for expansion and the subsequent increased student numbers but expressed a number of concerns that would be addressed by the school on an ongoing basis. 

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to:

1)  Note Members’ comments regarding the outcome of the consultation;

2)  Agree the permanent expansion proposed to take effect from 1^st September 2014; and,

3)  Authorise Officers to undertake the formal statutory processes for the permanent expansion of a school.

Report ED13032

The Portfolio Holder introduced a report outlining the future role of the Local Authority in Education Services.  On 21^st January 2013, Full Council had agreed a new set of parameters for its work with schools in the form of the Education Covenant, and this was reflected in the new business plan agreed by the Portfolio Holder for Education following the Education PDS Committee meeting on 23^rd January 2013.  The new approach sought to encourage schools to be independent of the Local Authority, with the Local Authority adopting the role of community champion on behalf of parents and their children, holding schools to account and ensuring an adequate supply of high quality school places.

The Chairman thanked the Executive Director of Education and Care Services for an excellent report.

In response to a question from a Member, the Executive Director of Education and Care Services confirmed that the Local Authority did not have a statutory role to address issues identified in maintained or academy schools, with Ofsted and the Department for Education as the respective authorities for each.  The Local Authority had entered into a local agreement with maintained schools across the Borough, and the Executive Director noted that the Local Authority also had a statutory responsibility for the five outcomes of ‘Every Child Matters’ and could theoretically intervene in any school where these were not being met. 

A Member noted the importance of ensuring that academy schools with specialist units were encouraged to maintain them and that the transfer agreements ensured that places in these units continued to be made available to Bromley pupils.  Another Member queried the responsibilities academy schools had with regards to audit.  The Portfolio Holder confirmed that all schools had a requirement to be audited but that academies were responsible for purchasing their own audit services.  He noted that a number of academy schools currently purchased audit services from the Local Authority.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to:

1)  Endorse the new role of the Council as champions of the community and continue to expect only the highest standards from all our schools;

2)  Use the Education Covenant to establish this new relationship with schools and ask all governing bodies to sign it following an appropriate period of consultation;

3)  Agree the proposal to undertake a final review of services to schools with a view to the Local Authority only offering services of the highest quality and which represent good value for money for the Council Tax payer, with a further report to Members in Autumn 2013; and,

4)  Request the Executive provide ratification of these recommendations at its meeting on 3^rd April 2013, and that the recommendations also be provided to the Full Council for ratification at its meeting on 1^st July 2013.

Report RES13071

The Chairman introduced a report providing an update from the School Governance Working Group which had been established by the Education PDS Committee at its meeting on 23^rd January 2013 to ensure that the Local Authority had a pool of well trained governors able to play an effective role in ensuring that schools were well governed.  The School Governance Working Group had met on 12^th March 2013 to discuss a range of issues impacting on the recruitment, role and responsibilities of Local Authority Governors and had made a number of recommendations around how this could be better developed.

In considering the report, Members of the Committee suggested that local libraries and the back of parking stickers might also be used to advertise the role of Local Authority Governors to members of the public.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to:

1)  Note Members’ comments on the recommendations of the School Governance Working Group; and,

2)  Support the recommendations of the School Governance Working Group.

Report ED130034

The Portfolio Holder introduced a report providing an update on progress in delivering the 2012/13 Basic Need Programme, which was funded by the Basic Need Capital Grant to support the provision of sufficient school places in publicly funded schools, and to request agreement for additional works in 2013/14 and 2014/15 required to meet increased demand for pupil places at Reception age.

On 13^th September 2012, the Portfolio Holder for Education had agreed a list of priority schemes for addressing the estimated increase in the number of reception age pupils from September 2013.  To meet this demand, ‘bulge years’ were planned at existing local schools to provide the required pupil places, which would be delivered through a combination of modular build and internal refurbishment. 

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to:

1)  Approve the updated list of schools within the Basic Need Capital Programme 2012/13;

2)  Agree the procurement of schemes within the Basic Need Programme through traditional procurement, the Lewisham Modular Buildings Framework or through devolution of Basic Need Capital Grant to schools; and,

3)  Authorise the Executive Director of Education and Care Services to submit planning applications at the appropriate time in respect of the list of schemes.

Report ED130049

The Portfolio Holder introduced a report outlining the budget monitoring position for the Education Portfolio based on expenditure to the end of January 2013.  The Schools’ Budget, funded from the Dedicated Schools’ Grant and specific grants, was forecast to spend in line with budget.  The Non-Schools’ Budget, funded from Council Tax, Revenue Support and specific grants was forecast to be in an underspend position of £2,114,000.

In response to a query from a Co-opted Member, the Early Years Manager confirmed that the recent restructure of the Early Years Service would not impact the level of service provided for early years and that there was no reduction in the number of officer posts.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to:

1)  Note Members’ comments on the budget monitoring position for the Education Portfolio;

2)  Approve the latest 2012/13 budget projection for the Education Portfolio; and,

3)  Approve carry forward requests for £297k for urgent property work for children’s centres, and for specific Dedicated Schools’ Grant projects totalling £204k (as detailed in paragraphs 3.5 and 3.6 of Report ED13049).

Report ED13050

The Portfolio Holder introduced a report detailing the allocation for the 2013/14 Dedicated Schools’ Grant, which had been notified to the Local Authority as a total sum of £228,331,776.  This would be allocated in three blocks comprising the Schools Block (£167,903,853), the Early Years Block (£14,560,243) and High Needs Block (£45,867,680).

A Member noted the reduction in pupil rolls of up to 7% in some secondary schools across the Borough for 2013/14.  The Head of Education and Care Services Finance confirmed that there had been a downward trend in the number of pupils seeking places in the Borough which was at its lowest in 2013/14, but that that demand for pupil places at secondary level would consistently increase each year from 2014/15.

A Co-opted Member was concerned that there had been a ‘top slice’ of Dedicated Schools Grant funding across all three blocks, including Early Years, to provide hospital-based education provision which did not benefit Early Years pupils.  The Head of Education and Care Services Finance confirmed that this top-slice was applied nationally by the Department for Education to support hospital-based education provision in leading regional centres of children’s medicine, such as Great Ormond Street Hospital, without the need for host boroughs to recharge other Council’s for education provision.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to approve the Dedicated Schools’ Grant allocation for 2013/14.

The items comprise:

• Minutes of the Education Budget Sub-Committee held on 13^th February 2013
• Update from the SEN Executive Working Party
• Achieving Two Year Olds – Capital
• ECS Contract Activity Report
• Development of Free Schools Update
• Academy Programme in Bromley: Update
• Education Policy and Legislative Changes: Update

Members and Co-opted Members have been provided with advance copies of the briefing via e-mail.  The briefing is also available on the Council's Website at the following link: http://cds.bromley.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?XXR=0&Year=2013&CId=559

The Portfolio Holder Briefing comprised seven reports:

• Minutes of the Education Budget Sub-Committee held on 13^th February 2013
• Update from the SEN Executive Working Party
• Achieving Two Year Olds – Capital
• ECS Contract Activity Report
• Development of Free Schools Update
• Academy Programme in Bromley: Update
• Education Policy and Legislative Changes: Update

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder Briefing be noted.

Report ED13033

The Committee considered a report outlining standards of attainment and progress in Bromley maintained schools during the 2011/12 academic year. 

In response to a query from a Member, the Head of Learning confirmed that Pupil Premium funding of £900 per pupil was provided for all pupils who had been in receipt of free school meals at any point during their time in Key Stages 1 and 2.  Schools were required to publish details of how this funding had been spent and to outline the impact of this funding on the progress of pupils in receipt of the Pupil Premium on their school website.  A Member noted that the new Ofsted framework targeted the progress of pupils in receipt of the Pupil Premium.  A Co-opted Member highlighted the importance of schools encouraging parents and carers to apply for free school meals where eligible.

The Chairman noted the need to ensure that the gap in attainment between pupils who received free school meals and those who did not remained a priority for Bromley schools at all key stages, and requested that an item on ‘Impact of the Pupil Premium’ be considered at the meeting of Education PDS Committee on 30^th January 2014.  A Co-opted Member also requested that information on the standards of attainment for children with special educational needs be circulated to the Members of the Education PDS Committee.

RESOLVED that Members’ comments on the annual report on the standards of attainment and progress in Bromley maintained schools be noted.

Report ED13031

The Committee considered a report providing background information on ‘Raising the Participation Age’ which was written into the Education and Skills Act 2008 and placed a duty on all young people to participate in education or training until their 18^th birthday.  Members were advised that from September 2013, young people would be required to continue in education or training until the end of the academic year in which they turn 17 years.  From 2015, young people will be required to continue until their 18^th birthday.  Young people would be able to choose from full-time education in school, college or home education, work-based learning with training, such as an apprenticeship and part-time education or training if they were employed, self-employed or volunteering for more than 20 hours a week.

In response to a query from the Chairman, the Head of Youth Support Services confirmed that of those young people categorised as non participation (in either full time or part time education, training or employment), there were 314 young people who were classified as ‘not in education, employment or training (NEET).  This was a significant reduction on the previous year, and the Head of Youth Support Services confirmed that work continued to be undertaken with schools and academies to improve reporting on the destinations of young people.  A stretch target of zero young people being categorised as non participation had been set within the Education Portfolio Plan for 2013/14.

The Head of Youth Support Services advised Members that Bromley was also participating in a Department for Education working group to identify best practice in supporting young people to engage with education, training and employment.  It was important to ensure that appropriate provision was in place for young people for whom traditional mainstream and work-based programmes would be inappropriate.

RESOLVED that Members note the inclusion of the action plan for the delivery of Raising the Participation Age in the 2013 Education Portfolio Plan as one of seven educational and learning action plans for business planning and implementation.

The Committee considered the annual report of the Education PDS Committee for 2012/13.  It was noted that the annual report would be provided to the Executive and Resources PDS committee on 27^th March 2013 before submission to Council on 22^nd April 2013

RESOLVED that the annual report of the Education PDS Committee be approved.

Report ED13036

The Committee considered the forward rolling work programme for the year ahead based on items scheduled for decision by the Education Portfolio Holder and items for consideration by the Education PDS Committee.

In considering the work programme for 2012/13, the Chairman requested that a number of additional reports be considered at the next meeting of the Education PDS Committee to be held on 2^nd July 2013:

• Objectives for the Education PDS Committee for 2013/14
• Future Shape of Adult Education in Bromley
• Update on the SEN Pathfinder

Members also requested that a report on ‘Truancy in Bromley’ be reported to the Education PDS Committee at its meeting on 17^th September 2013, and that reports providing an update on ‘Raising the Participation Age’ and ‘The Impact of the Pupil Premium’ be reported to the meeting of Education PDS Committee on 30^th January 2014

The Portfolio Holder thanked Members and Co-opted Members of the Education PDS Committee for attending a number of school and unit visits across the Borough during the municipal year.  The Chairman noted that the Council Members’ Visits Schedule for Autumn 2013 was now being developed and asked Members to provide any suggestions for visits to the Clerk to the Committee for inclusion in the Council Members’ Visits Schedule.

RESOLVED that:

1)  The Education Programme 2012/13 be noted; and,

2)  Members and Co-opted Members provide their suggestions for the Council Members’ Visits Schedule for Autumn 2013 to the Clerk to Education PDS Committee.

The Chairman to move that the Press and public be excluded during consideration of the items of business listed below as it is likely in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings that if members of the Press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded during consideration of the items of business listed below as it was likely in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.

RESOLVED that the exempt minutes of the Education PDS Committee meeting held on 23^rd January 2013 be agreed.

The Committee considered the report and supported the recommendations.

The Committee considered the report and supported the recommendations.

Circulated under separate cover to Members and Co-opted Members of the Education PDS Committee.

The Committee considered the report and supported the recommendations.