Agenda item

The Cabinet Member for Educational Attainment and School Improvement presented the annual education performance review report for 2022/23 and the draft Education and Participation Strategic Plan (EPSP) 2023-2026.

The Cabinet Member explained that during 2022/23, many pupils were taking their first exams since the start of the Covid pandemic.  Despite the lingering effects of the pandemic and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on pupils’ education and wellbeing, there were a range of successes and improvements during 2022/23 for the Borough’s young people and Schools to be proud of, which included:

·  57 of 59 (96.6%) of the Borough’s schools were now rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.

·  At the Early Years Foundation Stage, children achieving the Good Level of Development rose by 2.7% to 65.2%.

·  For GCSE English and Maths, performance at grades 9-4 increased by 3.9% to 65.8% in comparison to 2019 (when exams were last taken) and by 5.8% to 48.4% at grades 9-5.

·  A Level results were at their highest level excluding the pandemic years, with A*- B grades improving by 13% to 51.8% and A*- C grades improving by 11.4% to 78.6%.  The Cabinet Member added that the latter meant that the Borough rate was, for the first time, above the national rate of 75.4%, enabling more young people from the Borough to access the most competitive Higher Education (HE) courses and apprenticeships.

·  The number of young people progressing to Higher Education (HE) from Barking and Dagenham institutions rose by 8% between 2021 and 2022, representing 81% of the Year 13 cohort, with over a third of those progressing to the most competitive universities.

·  The performance of Looked After Children (LAC), disadvantaged pupils and pupils with English as an additional language (EAL) exceeded the national average across many headline measures.

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care and Disabilities spoke specifically on the highly inclusive and effective approach within the Borough’s schools in respect of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), with many receiving their education in a mainstream setting.  The Borough’s ARPs had also received quality assurance assessments over the Summer of 2023 and the feedback received highlighted a wealth of strong practice, commitment and passion for those within the ARP setting, many of whom present a range of complex and often highly challenging behaviours and needs.

In respect of the draft EPSP, the Cabinet Member for Educational Attainment and School Improvement advised on the revised priorities for 2023-26, as listed below, which closely mirrored those in the 2018-2022 strategy and which would support the delivery of the overarching “Barking and Dagenham Best Chance Strategy 2022-25: Our partnership plan for babies, children, young people and their families”:

Ø  A place in a good or outstanding school or setting.

Ø  Supporting achievement for all, including children exceeding national then London standards.

Ø  Strengthening outcomes, support and opportunities for vulnerable children and young people, including those with SEND.

Ø  Supporting the wellbeing and resilience of children and young people.

Ø  Improving opportunities for young people post 16 and maximising numbers who are in education, employment and training.

Cabinet Members congratulated the Borough’s schools and other educational establishments for their contributions to the ongoing improvements and commended the partnership approach that existed between the Council and other agencies. 

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Reaffirm the Council’s commitment to strengthening and developing partnerships with Barking and Dagenham’s family of schools, BDSIP, Barking & Dagenham College, CU London and other key partners such as Health, to achieve the best possible outcomes and opportunities for the borough’s children and young people;

(ii)  Note performance against the priorities of the Education and Participation Strategy 2018-22 as set out in section 2 of the report and in the dataset at Appendix A to the report; and

(iii)  Endorse the draft Education and Participation Strategic Plan 2023-26 as set out in Appendix B to the report.