Agenda item

Improving outcomes for underachieving groups remains a high priority for the local authority and for the School Improvement Service in particular. This is reflected in the School Improvement Service action plans which refer to accelerating the rate of improvement of underachieving groups, narrowing and eliminating gaps. In Brent there has been a borough-wide drive to improve outcomes for its main underperforming groups, Black Caribbean and Somali pupils. This report focuses on the impact of that work and provides an overview of the five Every Child Matters outcomes for the White British, White Other and White Irish groups. The report draws on data currently available to the local authority. It should be noted that information on outcomes in all areas is not available.

Rik Boxer (Assistant Director Achievement and Inclusion) introduced the report which provided the Committee with an update on the impact of the work which had been carried out to improve outcomes for Black Caribbean and Somali pupils and an overview of the 5 Every Child Matters outcomes for the White British, White Others and White Irish groups in Brent. 

Rik Boxer highlighted the significant improvements which had been made in the outcomes for Black Caribbean and Somali Pupils.  He explained that whilst these improvements were encouraging, further improvement was still needed. He informed the Committee of the ongoing work which was taking place to ensure continued improvement.  He explained that an improving outcomes strategy group had been set up, as well as three multi agency groups which were responsible for  looking at the following three areas; improving outcomes for 9-13 years olds, improving outcomes for 14-19 year olds and reducing Black Caribbean exclusions.

Rik Boxer then provided the Committee with an overview of the performance of White British, White Other and White Irish groups in Brent.  By doing so he drew on a range of data which was currently available to the local authority, including the fact that in 2009 31% of White British pupils in receipt of free school meals (FSM) achieved 5A*-C GSCE including English and Mathematics compared to 40% of all Brent pupils in receipt of FSM.  He also highlighted that whilst the numbers of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) were generally low, the number of pupils from White British heritage who were NEET was growing.  In addition the Annual Activity Survey showed that the white categories had a far higher percentage of young people who were not entering education compared to all other groups.   Furthermore, he drew the Committee’s attention to the data available in the report on exclusion rates, the number of children on children protection plans and the number known to the Youth Offending Service from White British, White Other and White Irish.

Rik Boxer concluded his presentation by providing the Committee with some examples of the work which was being undertaken to secure future improvement, including the work being carried out to help those young people not in education, employment or training and the particular focus which the action plan, created by the School Improvement Service in partnership with three other neighbouring authorities, had on improving the attainment of white boys on FSM. He added that the improving outcomes strategy group would be looking at the additional data for these three heritage groups to consider whether or not there was a case to widen the focus of the improving outcomes group to include this strand of work.

In the discussion which followed, the Committee noted the increase in child protection plans for White British and White Other pupils. Rik Boxer explained that there had been an upward trend in the number of children who were subject to child protection plans in general.  Following an enquiry, Rik Boxer explained that he was able to provide Members the data which compared the achievement of White British pupils who received FSM with other groups who were in receipt of FSM.

Harbi Farah from the Help Somali Foundation expressed a concern about the underperformance of Somali pupils.Rik Boxer explained that in recognition of the significance of this issue, there was a lot of work being carried out to tackle the problem, including, for example, tailored support within schools, the sharing of best practice and data between schools and the increase in the number of Somali teaching assistants within schools. On a more general level, he added that school funding had become more sensitive to the needs of groups who were in poverty and experiencing challenging circumstances.  The Chair reminded the Committee that there had been a task group which had specifically looked into this issue.

RESOLVED:-

that the following be noted:

a)    progress to date for particular underachieving groups, namely Black Caribbean and Somali pupils;

b)    the overview of the performance of White British, White other and White Irish heritage groups in Brent;

c)    action being taken to secure future improvements.