Agenda item

The Council’s Cabinet, at its meeting on 15 September 2014, agreed an action plan based on the recommendations contained in the Brent Education Commission report. The purpose of this report is to brief the Scrutiny Committee, as agreed at the Cabinet meeting on 15 September 2015, on the progress made in the past six months in implementing the action plan.

Gail Tolley (Strategic Director, Children and Young People) introduced the report that provided an update on the implementation of the action plan agreed by Cabinet on 15 September 2014 following the recommendations made in the Brent Education Commission (BEC) report.  She advised that there had been slippage in some of the deadlines specified and there had been some adjustments to the action plan, however it continued to focus on the areas identified in the report, which were:

·         Improving strategic leadership of education across the borough

·         Planning school places

·         Knowing Brent schools

·         Promoting and supporting school to school networks

·         Providing challenge to address weaknesses

·         Improving school governance

Gail Tolley advised that the council was progressing a shared approach to supporting schools with educational partners including Brent Schools Partnership (BSP) and two Teaching School Alliances (TSAs) and representatives from these organisations were also present to respond to questions from members. 

During members’ discussion, a member asked for further information about how knowledge of schools in the borough had improved, what had been learnt and what steps were being put in place in schools as a result.  It was asked whether the School Effectiveness Partnership Group’s role was primarily strategic and how did its work differ from that of Ofsted.  In terms of expectations, the committee asked whether schools in the borough were starting from a relatively low base and were dramatic improvements expected in the next two years.  A member enquired what measures were being put in place to improve partnership working and to develop the BSP and what responsibilities would remain with the council.  She felt that the School Effectiveness Partnership Group was working well and in terms of leadership she asked what steps were being taken in attracting and retaining the best headteachers.  She referred to the responsibility of the ‘family of Brent schools’ for all children in the borough and sought assurances that there were sufficient resources in maintaining and strengthening this family.  In noting the BSP’s intention to improve schools and provide further professional development, a member asked whether there was a sufficient number of such staff to facilitate this.

A member asked what strategy was in place to enable development of classroom skills for teachers.  Members expressed hope that better opportunities for higher level teaching assistants would arise and what assurances could be given that schools would not be receiving negative reports in two years’ time and would there be regular monitoring of schools to ensure that there was significant improvement.  One member asked how many schools in the borough were part of BSP and she suggested that there should be annual general meetings and more parent and governor representation on the BSP Board.  She added that the terms of reference and the composition of the BSP Board should be made clear in the report.  Another member requested that future reports include explanations of acronyms and enquired whether some priorities listed were higher than others.  Alloysius Frederick commented that he was working with two Brent schools around issues of governance and structure and in ensuring the right training was available.  One of the schools was also supporting another school in coming out of special measures.

In reply to the issues raised, Gail Tolley advised that BEC’s report had identified that a number of schools in the borough had been underperforming, with some significantly so.  London overall performed better than the national average, however Brent underperformed in comparison with its London statistical neighbours.  Gail Tolley advised that the aim was to have all schools in the borough rated as good or outstanding by 2017.  To date, there had already been some progress in improving primary schools, however there was more work to do on secondary schools.  Members noted that there was some ‘catch up’ to do, and a structure and system was being put in place with an ambitious approach to bring schools up to a higher level.  Gail Tolley advised that the achievement and standards report for the next item on the agenda had set a target of 85% schools being good or outstanding in 2014, with the figure achieved for that year being 78% of schools.  There was also a need to increase the number of schools currently rated good to outstanding.  The committee noted that there was a wide diversity of governance arrangements in Brent schools and advised that academy schools were part of the BSP and there were also two TSAs.  Academy headteachers also contributed significantly to initiatives such as the School Effectiveness Service.  Gail Tolley advised that the Action Plan set out six main priorities.

Sarah Conway (Strategic Coordinator for School Improvement) advised that data was now been stored centrally and there were performance profiles for each school which they received in the autumn term.  The information identified schools that were at risk and those that were performing particularly well.  Sarah Conway advised that the School Effectiveness Partnership Group’s role was more than just strategic and that it worked with schools to improve performance and undertook robust monitoring of schools on a half termly basis.  There had already been considerable improvement in five schools through this work and these schools were now graded as good.  Measures were put in place where there were concerns about a school and an action plan would be drawn up.  The School Effectiveness Partnership Group would then look for evidence of progress.

Karen Giles (Headteacher, Barham Primary School and Consultant Headteacher, Malorees Junior School) informed members that the School Effectiveness Partnership Group had placed an advert at the end of November 2014 inviting schools to work with them. She had responded to the advert and had been asked to support a school that in was in need of increasing capacity in order to have a positive effect on the quality of the school. 

Kay Charles (Chair of Brent Strategic Partnership and Headteacher, The Village School) advised that the BSP Board was mapping out best practice to spread across schools in the borough and confirmed that 72 of 82 schools in Brent were part of BSP, although the aim was to have 100% membership of Brent schools.  The BSP sought to support schools most in need and the early indicators suggested that the Rapid Improvement Group’s work was effective in raising performance levels.  Measures were being taken to ensure schools both had sufficient capacity and strength, whilst professional development of teachers was also a priority and Kay Charles felt there were enough staff to collaborate and harness their skills to achieve this.  Members heard that efforts were being made to build the capacity of BSP to improve schools as quickly as possible and it was also important to ensure there was harmony in working with schools in Brent and to embrace the diversity and richness of this harmony.  Kay Charles advised that professional learning and development of teaching assistants in Brent schools was undertaken and there were a number of different pathways to achieve this.  Monitoring of teachers’ support and management of teaching assistants was also taking place.  Kay Charles confirmed that there was school governor representation on the BSP Board and the BSP was a not for profit limited company that had a terms of reference and teachers were also represented on the School Effectiveness Partnership Group Board.

Martine Clarke (Executive Headteacher, Brent Teaching School Alliance and Headteacher, Byron Court School) advised members that qualifications for middle and senior leadership positions was being rolled out and 70 new staff had been recruited through the Institute of Education, more than any other London borough.  She added that work continued to build staff capacity. 

Christine Gilbert (Chief Executive) advised that a number of BEC’s recommendations were designed to build communication and bring together a family of schools in the borough.  She felt that it was regrettable that proposals for a schools awards evening had not been followed through as she had seen this work well in other London boroughs and she suggested that this matter should be looked at again.  Christine Gilbert emphasised the importance of delivering the BSP’s Action Plan and governors were also playing their role in improving schools’ performance. 

Councillor Moher (Lead Member for Children and Young People) commented that there was greater enthusiasm amongst the school community now and this would help to improve schools.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that the contents of the report be noted and that a further update be received  in the autumn of 2015;

(ii)        that the introduction of a proportionate approach to school improvement and the more robust challenge offered to schools at risk of underperforming be welcomed; and

(iii)       that the local authority’s role in progressing a shared approach to supporting schools with its key educational partners, including Brent Schools Partnership and the two Teaching School Alliances be welcomed.