PAPER C1

Purpose : For Decision

Committee :    EXECUTIVE

Date :              12 FEBRUARY 2002

Title :              EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT PLAN

PORTFOLIO HOLDER - EDUCATION AND LIFE LONG LEARNING

PURPOSE

To receive and consider the Education Development Plan for 2002-2007.

BACKGROUND

LEAs have a statutory duty to produce and implement an Education Development Plan. They are central to the LEA’s role, working in partnership with its schools, to improve school performance and raise standards for all pupils.

The EDP demonstrates how the LEA will provide schools with appropriate challenge and support in order to secure ongoing school improvement. The plan must work within the “Code of Practice for LEA School Relations” published by the Department for Education and Skills and apply the principle of intervention in inverse proportion to success. The plan must also show how the LEA will support the national strategies for raising attainment.

EDPs were introduced under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (SSFA) and the first EDP comes to an end in April 2002. This next generation of plans (EDP2) will cover the period 2002-2007 and require fewer priorities, under broader headings. The EDP must go to the Executive and the Full Council for approval. The plan must also be approved by the Secretary of State. The Isle of Wight EDP was submitted to the DFES on 31 January 2002.

SUMMARY

The EDP has several sections:

A Statement of Proposals consisting of:

•          Targets for schools and LEA for pupil achievement and attendance.

•          An audit of local strengths and weaknesses including an evaluation of EDP1.

•          School Improvement Programme with specific priorities for improvement.

Five Annexes with supporting information on:-

•          Tables on pupil performance.

•          An action plan for each activity.

•          Information on resource allocation to the school improvement programme.

•          The strategy for monitoring and evaluating the plan.

•          A report on the LEA’s consultation on the plan.

As part of the consultation, development, monitoring and evaluation of the plan the Select Committee established a task group for the EDP. This has been very useful and it is proposed to establish this as a standing group to continue the monitoring, evaluation and review of EDP2 as set out in section (ii) Annex 4.

Contact Point David Pettitt :Assistant Director Education and Community Development, Keith Simmonds :Senior Inspector