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ITEM LC7(b)

LEARNING & CULTURE – 2 DECEMBER 2003

MEMBERS VISIT TO THE BICESTER PARTNERSHIP OF SCHOOLS - 5 NOVEMBER 2003

Notes of the Plenary Session with Headteachers and Chairs of Governors

Present:

Councillors: Liz Brighouse, Alan Bryden, Rob Evans, Tony Crabbe, Neil Fawcett, Margaret Godden, Steve Hayward, Brian Hodgson, Terry Joslin, Shereen Karmali, Diana Ludlow, Olive McIntosh-Steadman, Sue Matthew, Jim Moley, Charles Shouler.

Headteachers: Cynthia Bartlett, Damien Booth, Paul Ducker, Andrew Hamilton, Kate Harper, Chris Hughes, Matthew Ingall, Tony Instone, John Moffatt, Rob Pearson, Paula Protherough.

Chairs of Governors: Robert Dando, Kevin Morris.

Learning & Culture: Richard Howard, Roy Leach, Maureen Thompson.

Apologies:

Councillors: Andrew Brown, Keith Mitchell;

Headteachers: Lynne Brown, Jim Hooper, Martin Lester, Jane Moffatt, Sue Pearson, Sue Tarlton-Humble, Kathy Wood.

1. Tony Instone, headteacher at Kings Meadow School spoke about his experiences and the impact of recent developments in Bicester. He raised concerns about a cultural wasteland for the community of the area, including the lack of managed support for the young people of the town and its surrounding villages. He also raised the concerns of the headteachers about development opportunities for youngsters in the future.
2. Paula Protherough, headteacher at Southwold School explained the history of Bicester Learning In Partnership (BLIP). She talked about the values that the partnership is built upon, gave a brief outline of some of the projects that the group is working on at present and which other independent partners are working to support the young people of Bicester.
3. John Moffatt, headteacher at Langford Village School, gave details about a new and challenging project presently being planned by BLIP to support a large number of vulnerable young people across school age range. Schools plan to work within a multi agency network, similar to that piloted in the EAZ. Initial criteria agreed across member schools within Bicester and villages identified up to 500 vulnerable pupils at risk of underachievement.
4. The three presenters and Cynthia Bartlett, Headteacher of Bicester Community College, formed a panel to answer a number of questions from Members and Chairs of Governors and expanding some areas in more depth. These included: a discussion of ways in which vulnerable children could be effectively identified and examples of schools working in partnership to deal with their needs; parenting skills and the benefits of the Family Nurturing Programme. Cynthia Bartlett explained that occasionally the lack of opportunities to deliver multi agency approach could lead to lack of consistency and opportunities to support these pupils appropriately.
5. Richard Howard described a developing initiative to support this and similar projects around vulnerable areas within the County. Heads of Service in Learning & Culture, working with similar colleagues in the Social & Health Care, the Public Health Authorities and the Thames Valley Police would seek to provide the integrated services that the partnership described. Gillian Tee would be meeting with Bicester Heads in the near future to discuss this.
6. Cllr Tony Crabbe thanked heads, chairs of governors and culture and community staff for the opportunity given to members to visits schools, the library and the youth centre. He also thanked those who had given presentations and contributed to the interesting discussion.
7. Lack of time prevented Andrew Hamilton, headteacher of The Cooper School, from giving his presentation. The following is a resume of that topic:

The Bicester Context:

Oxfordshire is classed as a predominantly affluent and rural area with a strong local economy. However, Bicester is the second largest growing town in England with a total population of 30,529 yet without appropriate infrastructure.

Bicester has high employment/low pay and ’forces’ town factors, which affect free school meals, comparison data and school mobility. The town has areas with high levels of disadvantage, deprivation, domestic violence, family breakdown, lone-parent families and homelessness that impact on our school. We receive a growing number of excluded/at risk of exclusion pupils from feeder schools and have a population with growing SEN requirements.

Despite the overall fall in crime in North Oxfordshire (June 2002-3), Bicester has had a 5.6% rise in all crime, violent crime +5.6%, burglary +51.4%, and drug offences +57.1%. Bicester has the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Oxfordshire. A planned asylum seekers accommodation centre has caused anxiety locally.

The demography of the area has a downward trend with potential high achievers moving on and pupils with learning difficulties moving in. Other relevant statistics include: Ethnicity: 97% white; Unemployment: 2.3%; No qualifications post- 16 years: 31.8%; living in rented accommodation: 36%; (Data taken from Children’s Fund application 2003, BLIP partnership data, Census 2001, Police Crime Performance Exec Report 2003).

Bicester schools learning in partnership BLIP

This is the first newsletter about our learning partnership. It is written to inform governors and the wider community about the many innovative and exciting initiatives which make our partnership a respected and powerful group within the Oxfordshire Education Authority.

The Bicester partnership comprises two secondary schools, one special school, nine town schools and seven village schools. Historically schools in and around Bicester have worked together, in formal groups such as "The town heads" and the village cluster group or informally to manage special projects such as arts weeks. There were always two partnerships linked to each secondary school. There was funding to support these groups. Seven years ago funding disappeared but the Headteacher and teachers realised the strength and importance of their work together. After much discussion these two groups merged and a brand-new partnership were formed - BLIP. This partnership has a constitution, terms of reference and a wide range of groups spinning off.

All schools recognise and value this partnership which has strength in collaboration, support and commitment.

• As a partnership we aim to work together to provide an improved and improving level of educational opportunity for all involved in the educational process in Bicester.
• To work together to raise the level of achievement and attainment for all individuals
• To work together to raise the profile of education in Bicester
• To provide a wide range of experiences and enrich provision for all learners

In practical terms this means that currently the following initiatives are taking place:

REGULAR WORKING GROUPS

• The Headteacher have a strong group, which transcends partnerships and is a powerful organisation. This group has several major initiatives at present.
• Deputies and middle managers
• SENCOs - special needs co-ordinators
• Nursery teachers and nursery nurses
• Transition groups of year six and seven teachers who support children moving from primary to secondary
• There is a community of committed and enthusiastic teachers who already want to develop their own knowledge and skills for their own professional development and the benefit of the pupils. They meet in curriculum groups, for literacy, numerically, ICT, sport

FOR PUPILS

• Research projects to raise standards
• Sports activities
• Art, Music and drama events shared
• Children's university
• Able pupil groups
• Joint schools' council had its inaugural meeting on September 26^th and provides primary pupil representatives with the opportunity to meet to discuss local issues. This is the first of its kind in Oxfordshire

FOR FAMILIES

There is a Children in Need Project, which is the first, attempt to develop a self-financed interagency working group. This will comprise a designated social worker and family link workers and is based on the Oxfordshire Education Action Zone model. We call it the "Children in Need" project. We hope to get this up and running shortly. It is an example of the organisation abilities and will of the community of schools to work together for the benefit of its pupils. It is now being used to design other projects in Oxfordshire- and is called The Bicester Model!

TO CELEBRATE AND PROMOTE BICESTER

Although there is high employment, standards in Bicester are not always as high as expected in comparison with national or "similar" schools. It is important that schools in Bicester are seen to be doing everything they can to support and challenge their pupils.

We need to promote our successes. We need to raise the profile of the excellent work, which takes place to raise standards, develop our talented, artistic, creative and sporting pupils.

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