Agenda item

Frances Craven, Deputy Director for Education and Early Intervention, and Sue Bainbridge, Schools & Learning Manager, attended for a discussion on how Pupil Premium is being used in schools in disadvantaged areas (ESC9). Lisa Biggin, Headteacher of East Oxford Primary School and Gill Standing, Headteacher of St Francis Church of England Primary School gave presentations on their experiences of the use of pupil premium. Lisa Biggin explained the school context with a high percentage of pupils having English as an additional language and 46% eligible for free school meals. She gave figures for the attainment of disadvantaged pupils at Key Stage 2 and highlighted progress on closing the gap. She explained the strategies in place to sustain performance.   She stressed that intervention, training and monitoring is key. Governors expect rigorous data on the effectiveness of the strategies. The added that the use of Children’s Centres had been instrumental in their acheivements.

Gillian Standing explained that her school was in the same partnership but that the context differed with with significant numbers of pupils on the Special Educational Needs Register. The number had dropped with less on School Action. She had been leading in the area but would be handing over to an Inclusion Officer. She set out the 6 key principles of building belief, identifying pupils and analysing a range of data, improving pedagogy, early intervention, increasing learning time and individualising support. There was extensive training and close monitoring of English & maths – but also social, emotional & behavioural support. Ms Standing highlighted family support and engagement as being important as was the use of breakfast and after school clubs. Liaison with others was important and she stressed the role of children’s centres/hubs where a greater level of support is available. She added that reading was a key to increasing confidence and that this often enabled things to fall into place.

The Chairman thanked both Headteachers for their presentations and the excellent work they were doing. He added that it was good to hear of the positive role of Children’s Centres.

Responding to a question about the role of governors Gill Standing confirmed that there was a governor specifically tasked with responsibility for the pupil premium and it was also a standing item on agendas. Lisa Biggin confirmed that at East Oxford too, a governor, the Chair of the Resources Committee oversaw the pupil premium.

In response to a question about the impact of high levels of pupils with english as a second language Lisa Biggin referred to the difficulty of pupils being taken out of school for extended periods. There was some discussion about what if anything the Local Authority could do to assist schools. Frances Craven indicated that it was difficult issue for our schools and they provided strong guidance from Governors Partnership working with the same message across a group of schools. It was important that schools felt able to follow the Policy. Councillor Howson suggested that this was something where the Local Authority could take a strategic approach and lobby governement. Frances Craven confirmed that the authority recognised the problems around attendance and their role & responsibilities. They were looking at thePpolicy with a view to launching a new Policy at the beginning of June.

During discussion members discussed the impact from September of universal free school meals which could adversely affect numbers declaring for free school meals and therefore the pupil premium. It was suggested that a clear message was needed from the County Council to get the importance of declaring across. Frances Craven commented that there was a group looking at this.

A member was interested in the different approaches of the two schools noting that  East Oxford was delivering something independent of parents where St Francis more parent dependent. The headteachers stressed that the objective was the same but that there was perhaps a focus on different things and that levels of engagement could be slightly different in terms of access to language.

A member highlighted 2 areas where he felt the Local Authority had a role to play: firstly the ability to spread good practice; secondly in monitoring and scanning in strategic terms to be aware of difficulties that might arise to push progress backwards.

Frances Craven commented that the role of the local authority was about taking a helicopter view across County. It was about spotting good practice wherever it sits. Sue Bainbridge added that the refreshed attendance policy will look at the responsibility of schools and how Local Authority can support them to set high expectations of attendance and to develop an attendance culture.

A Member expressed his pleasure at hearing of the work of the headteachers. He queried whether there was cohesion and continuity over the transition to secondary school and if not what could be done. Both Lisa Biggin and Gill Standing gave assurances that specific work was undertaken around the transition period and that included secondary school staff coming into primary schools.

In response to a question from the Chairman about areas where the interventions they had heard about were not happening Frances Craven stated that schools were getting much more skilled in the pupil premium area. Ofsted was a key driver. Schools were taking it very seriously. Practice was not yet consistent and data can be provided around individual schools. There was still more to be done and it would take time. Discussions continued with secondary heads and primary schools and it was a major focus and would continue to be.

Sue Bainbridge explained the changes to the School Inspection Teamwith its focus on vulnerable learners. The majority of heads and governors know their core business but may not know what to do about it in every case. Her team was about training others to provide that safe challenge. Frances Craven outlined the specific c responsibilities of the Local authority and the robust performance management measures in place.

The Chairman thanked all involved and concluded that educational attainment of vulnerable groups and people premium funding were two issues that should be revisited relatively soon.