MIDDLESBROUGH COUNCIL
Report Title: Development and Implementation of a Post Ofsted Action Plan for School Improvement
Executive Member for Education & Skills: Councillor Janice Brunton
Executive Director, Wellbeing Care & Learning:Richenda Broad
Date: 2 June 2015.
PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
1.To inform the Executive about the development and implementation of the Post OfSTED Action Plan (POAP) devised in response to the key recommendations made by the OfSTED team that conducted the re-inspection of the LA arrangements to support school improvement in February 2015.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
2.To note and agree the POAP that has been developed following the re-inspection and the publication of a draft letter from OfSTED.
IF THIS IS A KEY DECISION WHICH KEY DECISION TEST APPLIES?
3. / It is over the financial threshold (£150,000)It has a significant impact on 2 or more wards /
Non Key
DECISION IMPLEMENTATION DEADLINE
4.For the purposes of the scrutiny call in procedure this report is
Non-urgent / Urgent report
If urgent please give full reasons
BACKGROUND AND EXTERNAL CONSULTATION
5.Following the week long re-inspection that ended on 6th February 2015, the four member HMI team orally fed their findings back to the Elected Member and Executive Director. This feedback was very positive about the work that was taking place in Middlesbrough and what had been achieved through the collaboration between the LA and Middlesbrough schools. The feedback did recognises, as did officers and the Elected Member that this work was not finished.
6.The final written findings are published on the OfSTED websiteon 22nd May 2015. The elongated time delay is in part due to the timing of the general election and the rigorous quality assurance process that is undertaken by OfSTED. A draft letter was sent to the LA in April for factual accuracy checking and returned to CfBT, the regional inspection provider, before the final version was released to the LA on 11th May. The final letter has been sent to headteachers and stakeholders prior to the official publication date in line with OFSTED guidelines. The verbal feedback, the draft letter and now the final report have been used to inform the POAP. We are asked to return our written action plan to the Ofsted inspection support team within 30 working days of receiving the final version of the inspection report.
7.A press launch is planned to coincide with the official publication on the OfSTED website that will be centred on a school. Unfortunately the date for publication clashes with the Year11 leaving date in most secondary schools .
8.Inspectors were very positive about what they saw in Middlesbrough. The reportletter, which no longer contains a judgement about effectiveness, recognises the rapid progress and significant improvements made since the last inspection and the strong sense of ambition for Middlesbrough children and young people that is evident in headteachers, governors, elected members and LA officers.
9.The letter also points to improved communication with headteachers, the leading role the LA is playing in partnerships and the improvement made to systems and processes for school improvement, as key factors in the improving picture in Middlesbrough.
10.The OfSTED team praised the ‘strong leadership’ provided by senior officers and elected members. The team were also impressed by the ‘vision that the improvement of outcomes for pupils of all ages is a central pillar of the council’s ambitious plans for regeneration and employment. This ambition revolves around three elements: housing, skills and employment, and schools.
11.The letter identified the following areas for improvement.
Raise achievement across all key stages, with a continuing focus on the secondary phase, and reduce the attainment gap between disadvantaged and other pupils by:
- refocusing the Middlesbrough Achievement Partnership so that it has a more central role in raising the achievement of all children and young people
- ensuring that the current support and challenge for secondary schools and academies are maintained for the period of the planned programme and that this delivers outcomes for Key Stage 4 pupils that are at least in line with national averages
- developing the School Effectiveness Strategy so that by September 2015 the school categorisation procedures are clearer to school leaders, supporting rapid identification of decline and leading to a greater proportion of schools judged good or outstanding, particularly in the secondary phase.
12.These recommendations are consistent with our self-evaluation andwe have used them to develop the POAP.
13.The POAP is currently in a draft version until it is submitted to OFSTED. However the areas for improvement have been shared with headteachers at two headteachers’ briefings and all heads have been sent an electronic copy of the a draft version. They have been asked to feedback on the plan and to date one headteacher has produced extensive feedback which will be considered when the school improvement team meet to agree the final version.
14.A draft has also been sent to the regional senior HMI linked to Middlesbrough and to the lead inspector who carried out the inspection, inviting comment. To date no feedback has been received.
15.The current draft is attached to this report
IMPACT ASSESSMENT (IA)
16.An IA is not applicable to this decision as the recommendation is simply to note and agree the POAPwhich will be examined by Ofsted in line with statutory requirements. Improving the achievement levels of pupils in Middlesbrough will undoubtedly bring positive benefits for all sections of the community.
OPTION APPRAISAL/RISK ASSESSMENT
17.An option appraisal is not appropriate to this report, as the Local Authority is required to develop and implement the plan to address the issues identified by Ofsted.
FINANCIAL, LEGAL AND WARD IMPLICATIONS
18.Financial –Funding for the plan has been found from existing budgets within WCL and the Dedicated Schools Grant, and agreed by the Schools Management Forum.
19.Ward Implications –There are no specific ward implications arising from the improvement plan; however, a rise in attainment will benefit the whole town.
20.Legal Implications – Implementation of the plan will be considered along with the 2015 results by the regional OfSTED team to determine what additional inspection activity is required. However, no policy currently exists to clarify what the activity might be or what would happen if this judged that improvements had not been made.
SCRUTINY CONSULTATION
21.Overview Scrutiny Board considered Middlesbrough’s attainment position,the inspection outcome and the LA’s plans for improvement at its meeting in April 2014.
22.The Children & Learning Scrutiny Panel examined School Improvement and Support and the authority's post inspection plans for improvement at its meeting on 16th July.Further scrutiny of the progress of the POAP will be needed, and it is anticipated that a report on the POAP will be presented to Scrutiny in the new meeting cycle.
RECOMMENDATIONS
23.The Executive is recommended to note and agree the POAP and receive further updates reviewing the progress of its implementation.
REASONS
24.To ensure that improvements in attainment are secured and that the quality of provision in schools in Middlesbrough improves
BACKGROUND PAPERS
There were no background papers.
AUTHOR: Richenda Broad, Executive Director Wellbeing, Care & Learning
TEL NO: 729500
Address: Civic Centre, Middlesbrough
Website:
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