Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Kathy Bance MBE and Councillor Kevin Brooks attended as her substitute. 

Apologies for absence were also received from Mary Capon.

The Chairman reminded the Committee that the Declarations of Interest made at the meeting on 2^nd July 2014 were taken as read.

In considering matters outstanding from previous meetings, the Chairman noted that work continued with the RC Archdiocese of Southwark around the potential to establish a six form of entry Roman Catholic secondary school in the Borough.

Significant progress had been made in moving to a fully online schools admissions process and an update on this and on work to move to a fully online free school meals application process would be provided to the next meeting of the Education PDS Committee on 27^th January 2015. 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 30^th September 2014 be agreed and that matters outstanding be noted.

No questions had been received.

No questions had been received.

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

Work to develop the Education Portfolio budget for 2015/16 was underway and would be informed by a number of meetings with members of the public and residents’ associations in November 2014.  There continued to be a significant issue with the Bromley Adult Education College budget which was currently showing a predicted overspend of £260k for 2014/15. 

The demand for primary-level pupil places across the Borough continued to be high, and it had been identified that a significant increase in secondary provision would be required across the Borough in future years.  Work was ongoing with La Fontaine Academy to identify a suitable permanent site for the bi-lingual primary school.  A new planning application had recently been submitted for Harris Primary Academy Beckenham, and a planning application for Harris Primary Academy Shortlands would be considered at the meeting of Plans Sub-Committee No. 4 on 6^th November 2014.  Bullers Wood School had recently applied to the Secretary of State for Education to establish a six form of entry boys’ secondary school in the Bickley area which was expected to receive a response in Spring 2015.

Work to develop the alternative provision offer in the Borough for young people with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties was ongoing.  The purchase of Beacon House had been approved by the Council’s Executive on 10^th June 2014, with the expectation of developing a provision which offered a wide variety of vocational courses at Key Stage 4 and 5 to both male and female pupils identified as having social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.  A consultant had now been appointed to review the condition of Beacon House and identify the works needed to deliver a high quality learning environment.

A conference would take place with Head Teachers and Chairs of Governors of Bromley Schools in November 2014 to consider how pupils with special educational needs and disabilities could best be supported in mainstream education.  Work continued to review the use of the Phoenix Centre, Hawes Lane to ensure the provision of high quality initial assessment and ongoing support for children and young people with special educational needs into the future.

A conference would take place with Head Teachers and Chairs of Governors of Bromley Schools in November 2014 to consider the new educational landscape which was developing to support academies and the role of the Local Authority.  The Portfolio Holder would also be meeting with Local Authority Governors shortly to promote further inclusion of children with special educational needs and disabilities in mainstream settings.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder update be noted.

Report ED15111

The Portfolio Holder introduced a report that provided an update of recent Ofsted and school improvement activity across the Borough.  Since September 2014, there had been Ofsted Inspections of Poverest Primary School, Worsley Bridge Primary School and Blenheim Primary School.  In its Ofsted inspection, Poverest Primary School had been rated as ‘Good’, with its early years provision rated as ‘Outstanding’.  The result of the inspections of Worsley Bridge Primary School and Blenheim Primary School had not yet been published.  The Ravensbourne School had received an Ofsted Inspection on 30^th September 2014, and had been rated as ‘Good’.

Members were advised that 51% of Bromley Primary Schools had now converted to academy status, with 57% of all schools across the Borough now academies.  It was expected that a majority of the remaining Local Authority maintained schools would convert to academy status by September 2015.

Intensive support was currently being provided to Mead Road Infant School by the School Improvement Service following the resignation of the former Head Teacher.  Intensive support was also being provided to Holy Innocents RC Primary School by the School Improvement Service and a National Leader of Education through the Roman Catholic Diocese.  A new staff team was in place at the school, which included a number of highly experienced teachers.  Unvalidated data suggested that the school was now achieving good attainment results, and the school was working to move towards academy status as part of the Roman Catholic academies group.

An issue had been identified in the Chislehurst area around a number of junior schools that had chosen to become primary schools following conversion to academy status, with some infant schools no longer having associated junior school places.  Work was being undertaken to address this issue and it was hoped that there would be a creative solution to address this problem to meet the demand for places.

In response to a question from the Chairman, the Head of Schools, Early Years Commissioning and Quality Assurance confirmed that the Local Authority had no statutory duty to provide support to academies but did seek to build links where possible.  A meeting would be held with the regional commissioner in November 2014, and the outcome of this would be reported to the next meeting of Education PDS Committee on 27^th January 2014.

RESOLVED that recent Ofsted and school improvement activity in the Borough be noted.

The Education Briefing comprised three reports:

• Minutes of the Education Budget Sub-Committee meeting held on 16^th October 2014
• Update on School Nurses Initiative
• Bromley Academy Programme and Free School Update

RESOLVED that the Information Briefing be noted.

Report ED15116

The Committee considered a report providing an update on progress in implementing the recommendations of the School Governance Working Group which were endorsed by the Education PDS Committee at its meeting on 18^th March 2014.

The School Governance Working Group met on 27^th February and 11^th March 2014, where a number of proposals had been developed to support the role of Local Authority Governor into the future, including recruitment, selection and training process for Local Authority Governors, the development of best practice and work to promote the benefits of Local Authority Governors to academy schools.

In considering the report, the Chairman noted the proposal to develop a formal selection process for Local Authority Governors.  The Portfolio Holder for Education confirmed that the selection panels would include representation from both the Portfolio Holder for Education and the Education PDS Committee. 

Recent activity to promote the opportunity to become a Local Authority Governor had identified 37 potential applicants with a wide range of experience and skills whose details had been provided to schools across the Borough.  The benefits of schools appointing an Independent Clerk to the Governing Body were emphasised by Members, who agreed that the use of an Independent Clerk should be promoted to schools where appropriate.

At the Governors’ Conference held in September 2014, it had been proposed that a Bromley Governor Association be established to support the development of strong governance across the Borough into the future.  Work to develop this was being led by Bromley schools.  Members noted that the National Governors Association offered a range of support and training opportunities to schools for both Governors and Clerks, and that a named Officer was available at the Local Authority for Bromley schools to contact with any specific concerns or queries.

RESOLVED that progress made in implementing the recommendations of the School Governance Working Group be noted.

Report ED15113

The Committee considered a report outlining the legal framework and the Local Authority’s processes regarding truancy and children missing education.

Truancy in education was defined as absences from school that had not been authorised by the school and could include parentally condoned absences.  Persistent absentees were defined as young people who had an absence rate of 15% or above, including both authorised and unauthorised absences.  In 2013/14, overall absence for state funded primary and secondary schools had reduced by 0.7% from the previous year to 4.1%, and was lower than the national average of 4.4%.  Persistent absence for state funded primary and secondary schools had reduced by 0.5% from the previous year to 3.6%, which was lower than the national average of 4.1%.  This compared favourably to a number of the Local Authority’s statistical neighbours and surrounding boroughs.  Illness continued to be the main reason for absence and Bromley Education Welfare Service had requested schools be more challenging when looking at illness.

The Education Welfare Service discharged the Local Authority’s statutory duties in relation to children missing education and holding parents to account for ensuring the regular attendance of their children at school.  Children missing education was defined as all children of compulsory school age who were not on a school roll, nor being educated otherwise, and who had been out of any educational provision for a substantial period of time.  When undertaking inspection of local authorities, Ofsted had broadened this definition to include those young people who were attending alternative provision, been permanently excluded, in receipt of home tuition due to medical needs, receiving elective home education or were looked after by the Local Authority.  In Bromley there were currently 74 children and young people accessing alternative provision, 40 permanently excluded, 59 receiving home tuition, 111 receiving elective home education, and 197 looked after children.

To support the identification and monitoring of this cohort on a regular basis, the Local Authority had developed a Children Missing Education Policy which had been provided to all schools and partner agencies.  As part of this policy, schools were expected to notify the Local Authority of any pupil that they intended to remove from their school roll prior to removal, as well as notifying the Local Authority of any pupil that had failed to attend school for 10 days and that they had been unable to trace.  Partner agencies, health and voluntary organisations were also able to refer any child they believed to be out of education to an Officer within the Education Welfare Service who was dedicated to receiving Children Missing Education referrals.  On receipt of a referral, this Officer would undertake all relevant enquires, including making contact with the family in order to support the child to re-engage with education, liaising with supporting agencies as necessary.  Families and children who could not be traced were placed on a national database which was used by other local authorities to confirm if children reported missing had been identified within their authority.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

Report ED15117

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

The Chairman advised Members that the Care Services PDS Committee had not yet agreed to establish a joint working group with Education PDS Committee on the effectiveness of Children’s Centres and the Tackling Troubled Families Programme, and proposed that a working group of the Education PDS Committee be convened for 2014/15 to consider the effectiveness of Children’s Centres.  This was agreed by the Education PDS Committee and Member nominations were confirmed as Councillor Nicholas Bennett JP, Councillor Alan Collins, Councillor Mary Cooke, Councillor Judi Ellis, Mrs Joan McConnell and Mr Tony Wright-Jones.

Members were advised that the joint meeting of the Education and Care Services PDS Committee exploring child safeguarding would now be held on the earlier date of 25^th February 2015.

The Chairman reminded Members that visits were regularly arranged for care homes and schools and colleges across the Borough and encouraged all Members and Co-opted Members to attend. 

RESOLVED that:

1)  The Education Programme 2014/15 be noted; and,

2)  A working group of the Education PDS Committee be convened for 2014/15 to consider the effectiveness of Children’s Centres, and for the membership to comprise Councillor Nicholas Bennett JP, Councillor Alan Collins, Councillor Mary Cooke, Councillor Judi Ellis, Mrs Joan McConnell and Mr Tony Wright-Jones.

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 30^th September 2014 be agreed.

The Committee considered the Education Part 2 (Exempt) Information Briefing.