Agenda item

11.00

Rebecca Matthews, Interim Deputy Director for Education & Learning will attend for the discussion around the issue of recruitment and retention of teachers in Oxfordshire.

A background paper by Cllr John Howson is attached (ESC8)

The following people have been invited to address the committee on this topic:

·       Paul James, Cherwell School Headteacher

·       Patrick Garton, Cherwell School Assistant Headteacher

·       Tracey Smith, Headteacher of Tower Hill Primary School

·       Dr Mary Wild, Head of the School of Education, Oxford Brookes University

The Committee is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)            note the content of this report.

(b)            ask the Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Families to report back to this Committee on any actions that have been taken by the various Boards established in Oxfordshire to address recruitment challenges.

(c)            refer the issue of recruitment to the Teachers Joint Committee for discussion at their next meeting.

Rebecca Matthews, Interim Deputy Director for Education & Learning attended for the discussion around the issue of recruitment and retention of teachers in Oxfordshire. The Committee had before them a background paper by Councillor John Howson who declared an interest by reason of being a director of TeachVac, part of the Oxfordshire Teacher Services Group.

The following people also attended to address the committee on this topic:

• Patrick Garton, Cherwell School Assistant Headteacher
• Tracey Smith, Headteacher of Tower Hill Primary School
• Dr Mary Wild, Head of the School of Education, Oxford Brookes University

Councillor Howson introduced the contents of the report highlighting the worsening position with an expected increase in pupil numbers creating greater demand.

Mary Wild spoke about the position with regard to primary schools and referred to there being fewer allocations. This had led to a competitive environment for securing post graduates. They had been allowed to recruit only 75% of primary teachers compared with the previous year.

Patrick Garton outlined the work of the School Direct partnership and noted that all their work was at post graduate level. He had noticed fewer applications for RE, music, drama and IT and drawing and technology where there were fewer incentives to apply. In response to a question he outlined the model of training which was similar to that employed by the University led programme.

Tracey Smith spoke of the particulars difficulties faced by individual schools in recruiting and retaining staff. Her own school with 57% of its children on pupil premium was able to make use of the protocols favouring schools in greatest need. She highlighted the problem of affordable housing that meant that strong newly qualified teachers moved away from Oxford as there were no relevant key worker schemes for them that would allow them to remain.

During discussion Education Scrutiny Committee:

1.         considered the difficulties faced in getting recognition of the problem at government level and suggested a recommendation to ensure that local MPs were lobbied..

2.         noted the problems created by the lack of affordable housing and made recommendations accordingly.

3.         noted that linked to problems of recruitment and retention of new teachers was the increasing numbers of experienced teachers leaving the profession early.

4.         recognised the difficulty of the changing education landscape with schools acting individually. They noted the comments from Patrick Garton that he was involved in various groups and networks seeking to fund recruitment initiatives jointly. Members proposed that the paper be referred to the Schools Forum so that they could take note of the concerns raised.

The Education Scrutiny Committee AGREED:

(a)          Note with concern the contents of the report;

(b)          ask the Cabinet member for CEF to report back to this Committee on any actions that have been taken by the various Boards established in Oxfordshire to address recruitment challenges with specific reference to housing;

(c)          refer the issue of recruitment to the Teachers Joint Committee for discussion at their next meeting;

(d)          recommend the Cabinet member to request District Councils to consider the position of teachers and other workers in education in relation to housing;

(e)          recommend the Cabinet Member to raise with Oxfordshire MP’s the pressures the County Council faces so that they can bring it to the attention of Ministers;

(f)           ask the Cabinet Member to discuss with Ofsted the Committee’s concerns at their constantly changing emphasis and priorities

(g)          ask the County Council to consider a recruitment strategy that emphasises the positive aspects of working in Oxfordshire;

(h)          Request the Schools Forum to take note of the paper and use as a discussion point.