Agenda item

Report CSD15113

The Committee considered a report providing an update on the performance of schools across the Borough and the academisation of schools.

There were 95 Local Authority Maintained and academy primary, secondary and special schools in the Borough (excluding free schools and Pupil Referral Units) of which 81% were rated as ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good.’  66% of Bromley schools were now academies, which included 94% of secondary schools and 72% of primary schools.  A further 15% of Bromley schools were in progress to converting to academy status and 19% were exploring conversion.  Nine schools were not actively exploring conversion.

A number of Ofsted inspections had taken place during 2015.  Langley Park Boys School continued to be rated ‘Outstanding’.  Bromley Road Primary School, St George’s CE Primary School, Harris Primary Academy Crystal Palace, and Ravenswood School had seen an increase in their rating to ‘Good’, the Highway Primary School continued to be rated ‘Good’, and Biggin Hill Primary School had seen an increase in its rating to ‘Requires Improvement’.  Red Hill Primary School, Green Street Green Primary School and Raglan Primary School had seen a decrease in their rating to ‘Requires Improvement’, Burwood Special School continued to be rated as ‘Requires Improvement and Gray’s Farm Primary Academy continued to be rated as ‘Inadequate’, and measures were being put in place to support these schools to improve. 

Indicative results for the 2014/15 academic year had been released that showed a 6% increase in children achieving a good level of development at the Foundation Stage, which was 6% higher than the national average.  At Key Stage 1, there was a majority of 1-2% increases in performance on the previous year across all levels and subjects.  There was a similar increase in performance at Key Stage 2, with the results for Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling showing increases of 4% at Level 4+ and 6% at Level 4B+.  Both boys and girls were performing above the national average at Key Stage 2, with boys performing particularly well in the grammar tests with a 7% increase on the previous year.  The gap between boys and girls was more pronounced at Level 5+, with girls significantly outperforming boys in grammar, reading and writing and boys outperforming girls in maths.

Bromley schools would be impacted by a range of policy developments in 2015/16, including the introduction of the Common Inspection Framework for all early years settings on the Early Years Register, maintained schools and academies, non-association independent schools and further education and skills providers.  Short inspections would be introduced for maintained schools, academies and further education and skills providers that were judged good at their last full inspection every three years, and Ofsted now contracted directly with inspectors for maintained schools, academies, non-association independent schools and further education and skills inspections.  A new national curriculum had been introduced in September 2014 for all year groups except years 2 and 6, and from September 2015, all year groups would be expected to follow the new national curriculum.  From September 2015, schools would be expected to assess children’s progress and attainment without the use of levels by developing their own systems of assessment and the School Standards Team was leading working parties involving representatives from local schools to develop progression documents for reading, writing and mathematics to be trialled in Bromley schools.  There would also be some changes to statutory testing arrangements for Summer 2016, including an increased ‘floor target’ of 85% of children achieving an expected standard or above in reading, writing and maths combined at Key Stage 1 and 2.

In considering the report, the Chairman noted that a meeting of the School Improvement Panel would be held on 24^th November 2015.

RESOLVED that the update be noted.