The report sets out the work undertaken to refresh the Partnership Vision for Education, the development of the school clusters and the long, medium and short term priorities that have emerged from the schools clusters. It provides an opportunity to feedback on the refreshed Partnership Vision For Education which has been co-constructed with schools.

The Assistant Director for Children's Services delivered a report setting out work to refresh the Partnership Vision for Education and the development and emerging priorities of school clusters, highlighting the need for every cluster to implement changes in order to improve educational attainment. Members were advised of the ongoing challenges around recruitment and retention of teaching staff and were asked to consider areas of focus which could be included for consideration by the Executive.

In light of the report Members discussed the following in summary:-

·           Support for a Member reference group to provide feedback and advice on the vision outside of formal meetings.

·           That improving outcomes and maintaining and improving educational standards was the responsibility of schools, with support from and in partnership with the local authority.

·           The need to support parents, schools and governors with the analysis of data and ensure access to quality information sharing.

·           The need to ensure terminology was appropriate for all audiences and understandable from a non teaching perspective.

·           The disparity in Ofsted ratings and educational attainment.

RECOMMENDED:-

1.     That the Committee endorse the Vision to the Executive and that an updated version be delivered to the Committee in July 2017.

2.     That reference be made within the document to the All Age Skills Strategy in order to address measures the Council is taking in relation to the vocational skills gap within the region.

3.     That the Minutes of schools cluster meetings be provided to appropriate Committee and Ward Members.