To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 15 June 2015 and to note actions taken since that meeting.

That the minutes of the meeting of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 15 June 2015 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to the following changes.

Cllr Stock as an ex-governor of Sandy Upper School and Stephen Court as a governor of Ivel Valley School, which has satellite classes collocated with both the Lawns Nursery and Biggleswade Academy.

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The Chairman announced she had attended a CHUMS event and had been interviewed as part of the Domestic Abuse strategy work.

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To receive a brief verbal update from the Executive Member for Social Care and Housing and the Executive Member for Education and Skills.

The Executive Member for Social Care and Housing announced she had attended her first meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel.

On behalf of the Executive Member for Health, the Chairman announced the Committee would receive a presentation on the new duties for the Council relating to Children’s Health in August.

The Executive Member for Education and Skills announced the following activities he had undertaken:-

·         A number of schools had been visited.

·         Attendance at a skills event.  The Executive Member advised there had been low attendance by young adults and this would be an area of focus to increase the numbers.

·         That Bedford Borough Council had announced it would support schools that wished to switch to the two tier system.  It was unclear what immediate affect this change would have on Central Bedfordshire schools.

In light of the update a Member asked what advice would be given to schools affected by the Borough’s decision.  The Executive Member agreed to keep the Committee and schools informed when full details were available.

To consider and comment on the proposals outlined in the Partnership Vision for Education report.

To provide information to the Committee on the Partnership Vision for Education which has been developed in consultation with a range of key partners.

The Executive Member for Education and Skills introduced a report that set out the revised Partnership Vision for Education.  There had been significant changes from the original vision from 2010 which was revised is 2012, and it reflected the changed educational context with a large number of schools now academies.  An agreed joint working arrangement to develop successful approaches to learning was emerging.  Seven principles and six strands of work had been developed with partners from the original vision and Members were invited to comment on these and intended outcomes outlined in the paper.

The Committee noted the questions submitted by the Vice-chairman and these would be addressed outside of the Committee meeting.

The Committee commented and discussed the following:-

·         Concern that the Vision emphasis remained on GSCE and ‘A’ level attainment and did not reflect vocational attainment.  Members present felt the Vision would be enhanced by exploring everyone’s ability and attainment.  A Member also proposed that a College for Skills and Learning would be appropriate and put skills and learning on a level playing field with academic success.  In response the Assistant Director School Improvement advised the skills agenda was embedded within the document and that workstream five was intended to develop the skills agenda.  The Youth Parliament had also identified support for the work readiness agenda needing a focus.  Headteachers seek a balance of academic and vocational achievement.  The Executive Member for Education and Skills advised that new assessment arrangements from the Department of Education would address the skills based attainment and details would be submitted to this Committee.  The new assessment arrangements had already been considered by this committee but it was recognised that there were a number of new members.

·         The Co-opted Member (Church of England Diocese) expressed his disappointment that the Diocese had not been involved and wished to be included and referred to in the engagement process.  Concern was raised as to whether there was an issue with leadership and governance within schools and whether the use of Ofsted outcomes was appropriate.  The importance of succession management was considered a vital part of school and governorship planning.  In response the Assistant Director School Improvement explained succession planning was an important area and featured in section 1 (Leadership) and section 2 (improving outcomes).  It was agreed the wording will be reviewed to strengthen this message.  The overarching principle was to raise the quality of leadership, teaching and learning and therefore the improvement in results.

·         Whether the approach taken by some schools to implement a contract with parents to ensure ‘school readiness’ could be extended to a work readiness for leavers? The Assistant Director School Improvement agreed the whole pathway was important and officers would look at the most successful schemes used by schools within that workstream area.

·         What influence the Council would have on struggling schools to incorporate the key principles outlined in the Vision.  The Assistant Director School Improvement advised that the document should be owned by all partners, however, the Council had an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.