Agenda item

The Chair welcomed Paul Duckworth, Head of Service Education and Paul Dyson-Knight, Secondary Team Leader, to the meeting.

The report presented provided detail of standards in Lancashire schools, together with a summary of judgements by Ofsted.

The committee was informed that Ofsted had introduced its revised inspection framework at the start of the current academic year and early indications suggested the changes could result in some schools, currently rated as outstanding, struggling to retain this judgement..

The new inspection framework focused on the quality of education. This had been interpreted as a shift to the strength and breadth of the curriculum on offer to pupils.

It was pointed out to members that Ofsted's expectation for schools to be ambitious for all pupils, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds or with special needs, mirrored the ongoing focus in Lancashire enabling access to the wider curriculum.

The committee heard that Lancashire was likely to follow a national trend for a reduction in the number of outstanding schools this year. That would come after a 3.3% fall locally over the past three years in secondary schools rated good or outstanding, with 75% now in the top two categories. At primary level, 92% of schools in Lancashire were rated good or better. This had not really changed over the past three years and was above the national average.

Members were informed that another change to the inspection could affect primary and secondary schools with an outstanding Ofsted rating. Outstanding rated schools have previously been exempt from routine inspection, however this will change from September 2020 with Ofsted set to re-inspect all such schools within the next five years.

It was noted that outcomes for children with SEND, disadvantaged pupils, Children Looked After (CLA) and Children in Need (CIN), and for white British boys, was currently not good enough and were key priorities for the service moving forward.

The committee raised concerns on various aspects of Lancashire's educational performancereported.

Members were keen to understand how the county council planned to address these concerns. It was reported that Lancashire County Council was looking at having a more joined up way of working with partners through local networking as well as working with groups of schools in different networks. These networks would be overseen by a new strategic Lancashire Education Partnership Board. The board would be chaired by the Lancashire County Council's Executive Director of Education and Children's Services.

It was reported that the aims of the new system led school improvement model would be to ensure that the schools are at the heart of the system led approach

with a team around the school consisting of partner agencies such as health, Police, housing, inclusion etc.

Members were pleased to note the work being undertaken on strategies to address the current attainment concerns and requested a report to come back to a future meeting of the committee on the progress of the new system led school improvement model.

Resolved: That;

1. The standards of achievement by Lancashire children be noted.
2. Comments be noted on the work undertaken to address any issues and sustain improvement.
3. An update on the progress of the improvement model be provided at a future meeting of the Education Scrutiny Committee.