To endorse the Education Strategy 2024/29. 

ChildrenCHTHE MEMBER the The member for children’s and young people introduced the report.   It was noted as important to recognise that the county hosts 100 schools across a range of maintained schools, standalone academy or multi academy trusts.  Most of the schools were typified as high performing schools and education settings, rated positively by the inspectorate, Ofsted.

It was noted that this strategy had five key priorities, and the strategy was supported by a service delivery plan, its success was measured by a range of performance indicators which also complemented the Council Plan.

It was confirmed that the education strategy had been informed by coproduction and developed by a wide range of stakeholder engagement, including insight from children, young people and importantly schools’ early years settings and post 16 providers.

It was noted that the Special Educational Needs, the alternative provision assurance board and the roundtable governance group would receive regular updates on progress. 

There were no comments from cabinet members. 

Group leaders gave the views of their groups.

The production of the strategy appeared sensible and was welcomed. The Delivery Plan of how the strategy would be achieved was awaited.  It was requested that a record of the measures as they currently were, should be published now at the beginning of the strategy to see the council’s current aspirations over the life of the plan.  It was raised that explanation of the Gatsby benchmarks would also be beneficial.

It was requested that where asterisks are used, the reference points should be on the same page.  It was noted that the school numbers as of summer 2024, were 110 not 99 as listed and it would be helpful to have that disparity explained. 

It was commented that more context would have been welcomed regarding education in terms of the attainment gap, the current value, the attendance and looked after children attainment, to provide a picture of the current state and where the strategy was proposing to take the council. 

Concern was raised over the level of influence over multi academy trusts and academies. Whilst it was about partnership working, it was not clear how much engagement there would be and whether the council was resourced sufficiently given that funding had been diverted to those schools. 

In response to queries it was confirmed that the asterisk point would be corrected if needed.  It was confirmed that the accounting for schools included the independent schools as well.  It was noted that the council will persist good partnership working. 

It was confirmed that the Gatsby principles reflected the contribution of education towards future careers and there was a commitment that the Education Strategy would work in tandem with the Skills Strategy as it's being developed.

Regarding multi academy trusts it’s important to point out that the director of education and their team have effective working relationships with all schools, not just maintained schools and there is a partnership approach to this work. 

It was noted that in the emerging Children and Well Being Bill there is a focus on multi academy trusts and there are conversations regarding the role of the inspectorate across all schools. The council would need to see where that goes nationally before conclusions could be drawn.   

Councillor Lester proposed the recommendations, and it was unanimously resolved that: 

That:

a)    The Education Strategy 2024/29 is endorsed; and

b)    Delegated authority be given to the Corporate Director for Children and Young People to take all operational decisions, as set out within this report and appendix

The leader confirmed two closing points, firstly there was an open invitation to the all member briefing next week (week commencing 31 March) on children’s services.  This would be on the Improvement Plan and how the council are responding to that Improvement Plan and how the council was renewing its focus. 

It was also confirmed that the focus of the council was in delivering the best for its children, putting its resources and improvement plan into children as the future to ensure they have the best start in life.