MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE EDUCATION, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND LIFELONG LEARNING SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON MONDAY, 2 DECEMBER 2002 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM
Present :
Mr J F Howe (Chairman), Mrs B D Clough, Mr C M Gauntlett, Mr C R Hancock, Mr P D Joyce, Mr G S Kendall, Mr V J Morey, Mr K Pearson, Mr R C Richards
Co-opted (voting) :
Archdeacon M Banting, Sister Patricia
Portfolio Holder :
Mrs J L Wareham
Apologies :
Mr C B W Chapman, Mr N Mitchell, Ms M Wilson
Also present (non-voting) :
Mr R G Mazillius
36. MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2002 be confirmed.
37. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations made at this stage.
38. KEY STAGE 1, 2, 3, 4 AND POST 16 RESULTS 2002
The Strategic Director of Education and Community Development gave a presentation outlining the overall Key Stage 1, 2 3 and 4 results for the Island. Comparisons were made with the national and local targets and results from 2000 and 2001. Individual school performances were due to be published later that week. Additionally details were given of the post 16 results but national data, together with individual school information, would not be available until later that week.
The Select Committee was advised that the Island’s pupil population meant that single year results had to be treated with caution as 14 to 16 pupils overall represented a 1% factor. School performance was also affected by pupils with special educational needs, socio-economic factors and pupil movement. It was noted that the Island had a high level of pupil movement, between 12% and 20%. OFSTED recognised that any figure above 12% did have an impact upon pupil attainment and achievement.
The Strategic Director highlighted that value added information could radically affect the league tables for school performance. This included matters relating to curricular opportunities and teaching methods. OFSTED reports issued after school inspections rarely raised Key Stage results as significant areas of concern.
The results for Key Stage 1 indicated an improving situation except in reading where there was a slight decline. There was no difference in the results of boys and girls.
Whilst Key Stage 2 results showed an improvement over the achievements in 2001 they did not meet the targets contained in the Education Development Plan (EDP). Writing was identified as an area of significant weakness particularly for boys. Girls outperformed boys in all areas except for science.
Key Stage 3 performance in 2002 indicated little variation over that for 2001. Again boys were significantly weak in writing and this impacted on the results for science. The EDP targets for English and Maths had not been met. There was also a negative value added performance from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3 in English, Maths and Science. Members noted that the EDP targets for 2004 would require a substantial improvement in performance.
Key Stage 4 results could not be compared with national figures as these were not yet available. The figures did highlight that girls outperformed boys, particularly at higher grades of A* - C. The Island’s gender difference was also greater than either nationally or when compared with statistical neighbours.
Post 16 results were provisional and the full picture, including comparisons with national data, would not be known until later in December 2002.
In discussing the issues raised by the results members noted that schools wanted to achieve each pupil’s potential and this was not necessarily aimed at reaching the targets set at each Key Stage. Schools were working on a cluster basis so to ensure continuity of delivery through the sectors. Best practice in individual schools was disseminated to other schools. The Strategic Director believed that there was no evidence to indicate that teacher movement effected attainment and there were no areas where vacancies in Island schools existed which would impact on results.
Although it was the responsibility of the School and its Governors to ensure school performance the Council, as local education authority, had a duty to support them in attaining the targets set out in the EDP. Its ability to intervene in a school was proportionate to its success. The Council could assist schools in gaining financial assistance through the New Opportunities Fund for out of school study projects. The role of parents in supporting their children was discussed by the Select Committee. Members noted that the Public Service Agreement would include a target relating to family learning.
The Select Committee indicated that to enable a complete picture to be obtained of the Key Stage results a further report should be submitted when all the individual school results were available together with the national figures for Key Stage 4 and Post 16 examinations.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be noted and a further report be considered by the Select Committee, in February 2002, when all relevant details are available regarding individual school results and national figures for Key Stage 4 and Post 16 examinations.
CHAIRMAN