Agenda item
Items raised by the Teachers' Panel
1. Partnership criteria
2. Secondary school places
3. TU bill, Prevent Strategy and the Education and Adoption bill - joint strategic response
4. Brent OFSTED outcomes and future plans
Minutes:
i) Partnership criteria
Gail Tolley (Strategic Director, Children and Young People) confirmed that the Cabinet at their meeting on 16 November 2015, had considered a report on the School Place Planning Strategy appended to which was partnership commitment for academies and free school providers working in collaboration with the council. This included a requirement for academies and free school providers to demonstrate appropriate staffing arrangements including trade union recognition.
ii) Secondary school places
The committee agreed to take as an urgent item, the 'School Place Planning Strategy 2014-18' update. The Teacher’s Panel enquired on the progress of school places in Brent. Gail Tolley advised that on 16 November 2015 the Cabinet had approved a report updating the 2014-18 School Place Planning Strategy. There were currently sufficient primary and secondary places. While the demand for places had lessened in comparison to previous years, all planned expansions would be required. Demand for secondary places was expected to exceed supply by 2018 and this was a London wide concern. Gladstone Free School had been further delayed due to the absence of a suitable site. The DFE would decide on applications for Free Schools and pre-approval consultation would be required. Gail Tolley stated that she was aware that some local secondary academy schools were considering making a submission to sponsor a new Free School.
In response to a question on recruitment and retention and whether there would be sufficient teachers available, Gail Tolley responded that the issue of recruitment was London wide and there was a need for a realistic approach. The Teachers’ Panel reminded that the problem was exacerbated by the cost of housing in Brent, the lack of affordable housing, the cost of living and reduced teachers’ salaries.
Gail Tolley stated that there was no requirement to consult on the update to the School Place Planning Strategy report in advance of submission to Cabinet in November as it related to legislative changes which were not negotiable. She further confirmed that the meeting of Special school head teachers to discuss a proposal to sponsor a new free school, took place outside of school hours.
The Teachers’ Panel expressed concern at the appearance of secrecy and the value of openness and transparency suggesting that the head teachers be asked to share information.
The feasibility of moving to all-through schools, for example, with schools located over different sites, as a means of increasing places was discussed and the Chair questioned the extent to which information was available on other councils’ experience in this area.
iii) TU bill, Prevent Strategy and the Education and Adoption bill - joint strategic response
The Teachers’ Panel questioned progress on the council’s response on the TU bill, Prevent Strategy and the Education and Adoption Bill with a view to reaching consensus on a joint approach. The committee heard that the TU Bill was due to be raised at Full Council in November. Regarding the Prevent Strategy, the Teachers’ Panel emphasised that their concerns were over the approach and stressed the need for any concerns to be dealt with as safeguarding issues and that staff not be required to act as police. Additionally, it was felt that teaching unions should have been consulted. Gail Tolley stressed that the guidance for schools was that Prevent should be treated as part of safeguarding.
iv) Brent OFSTED outcomes and future plans
Gail Tolley advised that an Ofsted inspection had been conducted during September 2015 the outcome of which would be published the following week.