To provide the Scrutiny Committee with an overview of the standards in the Primary phase in Herefordshire in 2010.

The Committee were provided with an overview of the standards in the Primary school phase in Herefordshire in 2010.

The General Inspector presented the agenda report which briefly described: the assessment of pupils work and the moderation process for those assessments; that target setting for key stage 1 had been introduced alongside statutory key stage 2 target setting and this would continue in 2010/11; a number of schools had boycotted the KS2 SAT assessment in 2010; due to falling rolls and financial pressures heads at some schools were considering carefully the organisation of classes at their school.  The Report also set out that key stage one results continued to be a concern and, while there had been welcome improvements in writing and some improvement in children achieving level 2B+ in reading and level 2C+ in maths, results were still not matching national averages.  Pupil achievement was set out in greater detail in the report.

During the course of discussion the following principal points were noted:

• While the intention was to improve all academic areas, support to schools would be focused through the ‘category’ and the ’intervention’ programmes and work was already underway through the Early Years Team, School Improvement Partners and school governors.   Further work was being undertaken with governors to support governance and leadership arrangements.
• A number of areas in the Early Years curriculum conflicted with the curriculum for the Primary phase and a number of teachers were being supported in addressing this issue.
• Pupils entered primary phase at differing attainment levels and therefore teachers at KS1 had to balance the classes abilities in an attempt to bring them up to the same level. A child’s birth date could also be a factor.
• Some schools had not administered the KS2 SATS tests this year and therefore the national results may be overstated.  Locally 8 schools had boycotted the tests. 
• The results of Ofsted inspections indicated that more schools in Herefordshire were moving away from the negative inspection outcome.
• Questioned on Science (report Table D) the Committee noted that attainment was now assessed by ‘teacher assessment’.
• Questioned why in some cases English and Maths statistics were combined, the Committee were informed that pupils that achieve well in both subjects usually had greater life chances in later life.
• Noting the difference in attainment in reading (report Table B) it was questioned whether Libraries were being proactive in providing interesting literature, particularly for boys.  In response it was reported that Libraries were running a project to encourage under 5s to read and further publicity for this would be considered.

The Committee noted that in view of the 2010 data the priorities for 2010/11 at both key stage 1 and 2 for the School Improvement Team had been identified, as set out at paragraphs 13 and 15 of the report.  The Comittee requested further reports on how the Team were achieving those priorities.

RESOLVED: that

a)      the report be noted, particularly the actions to drive further improvements set out at paragraphs 13 and 15 of the report; and

b)      an update report be presented in approximately 6 months with a fuller report being made in 12 months.