Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2022.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 27 January 2022 were approved as a correct record.

Councillors and officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

Councillors and Officers were invited to declare any interests which they had in any of the agenda items for the meeting.

No interests were declared.

To consider a report of the Director of Education.

The report outlines the projection methodology and preferencing and interplay with sufficiency.

The Panel is requested to note the content of the report and recommend further areas for review.

Contact Officer: Chris Harland on 0161 521 1707, chris.harland@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Education submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details relating to the strategy for school places and the projection methods.

Chris Harland (School Places Admissions & Transport Manager) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions: -

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·       The Panel enquired about parental preference and how parents made their choices for faith schools. It was stated that the ‘want’ for faith based education was tracked annually within Stockport and it was known that around 18% of the school population would apply for a Catholic based education whether it was primary or secondary which was factored into pupil estimates. It is a complicated factor to take into account as part of the process and includes the challenges of school performance, ofsted reports and parental choice for faith based schools.

·       Clarification was sought regarding the preference system and the performance of the school and how the low performing schools were able to be included in parental preferences again. It was noted that preferencing could be moved quickly and it is really about the perception of the school. School improvement and school effectiveness is then vital to work closely with those schools with the right kind of support and intervention to improve the overall quality of the schools. As a result, the system can’t be led by just a preferencing system, but other options need to be explored including capital investment so that schools could be improved and the standard raised.

·       The Panel enquired about themes and what caused the ‘flip-flopping’. In response, it was stated that the role of admissions was to manage the expectations of parents to support their informed choices, provide information to help them make practical and realistic choices. Parents will then look at the information provided and their chances of obtaining places at those schools and apply accordingly.

·       It was noted that brand new schools attract a lot of capital investment as well as a good rating, so it would be fairly obvious for parents to apply for those schools which then has an impact on the schools that are inadequate.

·       The focus and aim was for there to be no inadequate schools in Stockport which would increase the preferences and fairness across all the schools.

The Panel enquired about information for the next meeting relating to: -

·       SEND provision

·       the impact of Covid on education, specialist and alternative provision

·       Pupil Referral Units

·       The digital strategy and moving back to the classroom and its impact on learning both face to face and online

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted and officers be thanked for presenting the information and data.

(2) That the following information be included in the report for the next meeting: -

·       SEND provision

·       the impact of Covid on education, specialist and alternative provision

·       Pupil Referral Units

·       The digital strategy and moving back to the classroom and its impact on learning both face to face and online

To provide the Panel with the opportunity to discuss the information and evidence presented by officers and witnesses, receive responses to questions relating to the scope of the review and formulate recommendations.

There were no further questions.

To agree the dates for future meetings and the timescales for undertaking the review.

RESOLVED – That the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Democratic Governance and Monitoring Officer) be authorised to determine the date for the next meeting of the Panel in consultation with the Chair and the Panel members.