To receive a report detailing recommendations for improvement following a task force investigation.

The Chairman introduced the report and reminded Members of due process and that once the Committee had offered their comments and considered the report the Executive would assess how the recommendations would be delivered, providing an update on progress later in the year. On behalf of the Committee the Chairman formally thanked those head teachers, officers, task force Members and professionals who had contributed to the enquiry findings, acknowledging the vast amount of work which had gone into producing the evidence, research and final document.

The Chairman of the task force introduced a summary of the report findings highlighting the enquiry scope requested of Members, acknowledging the wider piece of work which had taken place at the same time as the task force enquiry in relation to schools for the future. Members of the task force had been cognizant of the need not to duplicate efforts and instead await the outcomes of that project which was anticipated in July 2018. There were recognised challenges in relation to pupil cohort, the use of the pupil premium and wider schools funding and the incentives offered to teaching professionals locally and by neighbouring authorities, with a need to ensure that all schools and educational professionals worked together in order that responsibility be taken for the educational journey of the child.

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

·         That Members welcomed the findings of the report and requested that the operational update due to be delivered at a future meeting include KPI’s and long term solutions to those issues.

·         The importance of ensuring the report findings aligned with the Partnership Vision for Education.

·         Despite many of the recommendations being listed as ‘cost neutral’ there would be a substantial impact on staff resource in the implementation of some recommendations.

·         Concerns regarding the increased responsibilities placed on school governors, recognising the challenges in relation to the role.

·         The need to evidence the benefits of extending the school improvement team from two years to five as recommended within the report.

·         The importance of ensuring those items highlighted within the report be added to the Committee work programme as necessary.

·         The importance of parental engagement, providing parents with the appropriate tools to be able to support their child’s educational journey and the progress of locality working in supporting this in the long term.

·         That where additional revenue was required to progress particular recommendations that these be prioritised when considering the annual budget.

RECOMMENDED that the Committee support the recommendations as detailed within the report and refer them to the Executive, with a focus on prioritising those recommendations relating to the work of the new school improvement team.