Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Education and Schools presented the draft Education Strategy for 2014-17 together with a summary of schools’ performance in national tests and examinations for 2014.

The Cabinet Member explained that the Education Strategy had been framed around the Council’s new vision and priorities and would be a useful toolkit for schools and the Council’s School Improvement Service.  The importance of having an effective partnership with all schools in the Borough was highlighted as key to achieving the two overarching objectives of the Strategy:

1.  A place in a good or outstanding school or early years setting for every child or young person.

2.  Exceeding national standards and then London standards.

It was noted that the key areas of improvement were reading at Key Stage 2 and mathematics at secondary school level.  The Cabinet Member for Education and Schools confirmed that while the Council did not support the Coalition Government’s policy of forcing schools into Academy status, it was important to work with all schools in the Borough to ensure that children receive the best possible education.

The Cabinet Member agreed to include additional comparative and other data in future update reports and advised that she would be working closely with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care to tackle ongoing issues relating to NEETs (young people not in education, employment or training).

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Approve the Education Strategy 2014-2017 as set out at Appendix 1 to the report and endorse the Council’s commitment to continuing the strong partnership with all schools in the borough to achieve the best possible outcomes and opportunities for its children and young people; and

(ii)  Note the performance of schools in national tests and examinations in 2014 as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.