Members are requested to consider the focus and process for the Peer Review of Arrangements For School Improvement.

Provide comment on the outcome and recommendations from the Review and the actions being taken to address these, and how these will contribute to the refresh of the Partnership Vision For Education.

The Director of Children’s Services introduced a report that outlined the findings of a commissioned peer review of support for school improvement.  The Peer Review Team investigated the extent to which schools were engaged in the 5 year vision and how well they understood the joint roles, responsibilities and accountabilities.  A set of recommendations had been provided for all stakeholders and in partnership with the Council.

In light of the report Members raised the following queries:-

·         Concern that the Peer Review key recommendations were not meaningful to schools and whether the authority had the capacity to implement the recommendations.  In response the Director was able to provide examples of work with schools to improve.

·         That it was the Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) who was meant to drive improvement in academies and not the Council.  In response, the Director advised it was her role to champion children and challenge schools that under performed.  Members felt that this then highlighted possible deficiencies in the state system of school improvement, if the RSC could not respond to local school needs.

·         That the focus of the White Paper and forced academisation of schools would require a refresh of the Partnership Vision and the endorsement of the RSC.

·         Whether it was appropriate that Multi Academy Trusts were referred to throughout the proposed refreshed Vision rather than alternative models, such as federations.  The Director would reconsider the appropriateness of the model referred to.

In summary Committee expressed an expectation of improvement in schools performance and requested reassurance there was capacity to undertake this role.

RECOMMENDED

1.    That the Executive be requested to assure themselves that sufficient capacity exists in the Council to implement the recommendations of the Peer Review, to hold the system to account, and consider representations to the RSC if it requires assurance in the RSC’s capacity.

2.    The Director considers alternative school model references.

3.    That the Peer Review recommendations be prioritised.

4.    That the vision be condensed to become concise and resemble a plan on a page.

5.    That the Council work in partnership with the Regional Schools Commission to deliver the Vision.

6.    That the Regional Schools Commission be invited to attend a future meeting of the Committee.

7.    That the Partnership Vision refresh be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.