Issue - meetings

Stephen Belbin, Head of Schools Improvement, presented a report on the summary of standards at KS4 across Lancashire.

It was reported that pupil attainment comprised of two key measures combined: attainment and progress.  The Committee noted that the A*-G grades for English and Mathematics had been replaced by the new grades 1 (low) to 9 (high) with grade 4 (standard pass) being equivalent to a grade C and grade 7 being equivalent to grade A.  In a move to raise standards, the new Grade 5 had been named as a 'strong pass', with no equivalent in the A*-G system.

Information was provided to Committee Members on the following:

·  Percentages of pupils achieving English and Mathematics grades of 4 and above, and grade 5 and above (the Basics Measure);

·  Average Attainment 8 score per pupil (calculating a pupil's total grades across eight subjects);

·  Proportion of pupils achieving a specific grade in all five of the English Baccalaureate subject areas (English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, Languages), published at the following two levels for 2017:

o  Proportion achieving A*-C in Science, Humanities and Languages, with a standard pass in English and Mathematics (Grade 4+);

o  Proportion achieving a strong pass in English and Mathematics (Grade 5+) and A*-C in the other subjects.

·  Progress 8 – the progress pupils made from KS2 to KS4 measured across 8 subjects as outlined above.

It was reported that, as the English Baccalaureate, Attainment 8 and Progress 8 measures all required a specific combination of subjects, the results in these subjects would vary, depending upon the specific curriculum offered by individual schools.

A query was raised on how problems were identified in schools in particular boroughs within the Districts.  Stephen Belbin reported that local data was provided to officers which would highlight areas of concern in individual schools.

The Committee noted that the areas of focus were Burnley, Pendle and Hyndburn.  However, it was noted that rates of improvement in these 3 districts were greater than the rate across Lancashire, and that these rates of improvement were mirrored at KS2.  Stephen Belbin informed the Committee that County Councillor Driver had requested that a Recovery Plan be presented to the June CCPI meeting on this.

Resolved:  That the Cabinet Committee note the report.