Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The report outlines the impact of the Local Authorities strategy and action plan for improving outcomes for those pupils eligible for Pupil Premium in 2014/15 including developments for improving outcomes in 2015/16.

The Scrutiny Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Alan Beswick on Tel: 474 3819 or email: alan.beswick@stockport.gov.uk

Representatives of the Corporate Director for People submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) advising the Scrutiny Committee on the impact of the local authorities’ strategy and action plan for improving outcomes for those pupils eligible for Pupil Premium in 2014/2015 and developments for improving outcomes in 2015/2016.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Provisional data for 2014/2015 indicated both a closing of the attainment gap between those pupils eligible for Pupil Premium and their peers across a range of indicators at all key stages. Notably, there had been a significant increase in the attainment of the Pupil Premium cohort and for children in Brinnington and Central.

·         The attainment of the Pupil Premium cohort was above that nationally in over 50% of the secondary schools in 2014/2015 which is similar to 2013/2014 although several of the schools who had improved were different from previous years.

·         The Committee heard that the focus on improving the quality of classroom teaching first and then providing strategies and activities outside school hours was more effective.

·         Performance tables for individual schools would be published in January. Councillors discussed the difference between making good progress in conjunction with actual attainment.

·         The transition from primary to secondary, particularly in priority areas, was identified as a key moment when you people required appropriate and targeted support.

·         Attendance and punctuality were extremely important to the efforts to close the attainment gap. The gap was also affected by strong attainment by pupils not in receipt of pupil premium.

·         The role of the Virtual School Head Teacher and Looked After Children designated teachers in provided support to children.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.