Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Education

Forward Plan Ref: 2012/063

Contact: Frances Craven, Deputy Director for Education & Early Intervention Tel: (01865) 815498

Report by Director for Children’s Services (CA8).

The Education Strategy is designed to support a transformation shift in standards across the county's schools.  The report provides details on the progress that has been made on the Education Strategy since Children's Services Scrutiny Committee considered the draft strategy in February 2012, together with information on the key strategic strands. A decision is now required in relation to the document 'Strategy for Change - Improving Educational Outcomes in Oxfordshire.' 

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to agree the Strategy for Change – Improving Educational Outcomes in Oxfordshire.

The Education Strategy is designed to support a transformation shift in standards across the county's schools.  Cabinet considered a report that provided details on the progress that has been made on the Education Strategy since Children's Services Scrutiny Committee considered the draft strategy in February 2012, together with information on the key strategic strands and sought approval to the document 'Strategy for Change - Improving Educational Outcomes in Oxfordshire.' Cabinet also considered a note on the outcomes from a discussion of the document at the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee on 12 July 2012.

Councillor Michael Waine, Chairmen of the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee welcomed the alignment of the 2 meetings so that he could speak to cabinet but expressed the unhappiness of the Committee that the document did not get to them until the day before their meeting. Communication was key to the whole strategy. Buy in from the Schools and ownership from within a school was essential. There was a danger of presumption in any data led exercise and the Board must have the power of challenge and intervention. There was a need for more than an annual report. The targets in the draft were aspirational in the extreme and were now realistic and the Committee would continue to review.

Councillor M. Altaf-Khan noted that the City Schools brought the averages down and felt that the Strategy did not address the issue of English as a second language and how these pupils would be targeted. In response to questions Councillor Altaf-Kan indicated that he would like to see a targeted campaign aimed at helping those pupils with English as a second language. Councillor Hudspeth replied that they were working with the City Council on a range of wider issues that affected attainment such as housing.

During discussion the respective roles of Headteachers and School Governors and the Council were highlighted. In particular the Local Authority had a role in respect of vulnerable learners.

RESOLVED:             to agree the Strategy for Change – Improving Educational Outcomes in Oxfordshire.