Decision details

The Chair welcomed Stephen Belbin, Head of Service School Improvement; and Paul Dyson-Knight, Senior Advisor Team Leader Secondary, to the meeting.

The report presented explained that 92% of Lancashire schools were judged to be good or better. This was above the national average (89%) and the North West average (90%). This placed Lancashire schools second against their statistical neighbours. Standards of attainment were close to the national averages at the Foundation Stage, below the national average at Key Stage 1 and in line at Key Stage 2. They were below the average at Key Stage 4.

The Committee were satisfied with the renewed emphasis on reading. Members were advised that the data on reading would filter through to Key Stage 4.

Concerns were raised about the fact that Religious Education was not part of the new English Baccalaureate Certificate (EBacc). EBacc was a school performance measure. It allowed people to see how many pupils got a grade C or above in core academic subjects at Key Stage 4 in any government funded school.

Members were informed that new technical and vocational qualifications had started to emerge and schools had started to engage with these to support a broad and balanced curriculum.

The Committee queried whether employers were kept informed on the changes to curriculum which could potentially impact on attainment and future employability of young people.

Members were advised that there was more literacy demand in the new exams and teachers were having to adapt the way they taught in order to better prepare children.  It was reported this could also have an impact on the future recruitment of teachers.

The changes in the system would enable a child's education progress to be tracked from its reception year right up to exams at the end of Year 11. A vast majority of schools held pupil progress meetings every term where the pupil's progress in all subjects was considered.

The Committee felt there was more to be gained by placing governors in a more proactive role in their local communities. Ofsted stated that governors should be more strategically involved in school improvement. It was confirmed that most secondary schools had a Governors Improvement Plan in place and governors were engaging in debates around curriculum.

Resolved: That the;

  i.  Number of Lancashire schools judged to be good or better in Lancashire be noted

  ii.  Standards of attainment in Lancashire schools be noted.