Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Duducu and Councillor Eginton Councillors Graham and Morse acted as substitutes.

Cllr. Becky Haggar declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item number 5, the Major Review Witness Session. This was due to personal family circumstances. Cllr. Haggar left the room while the item was discussed.

It was agreed that all items were Part I and would be discussed in public.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 February 2016 be agreed as a correct record.

The Head of Business Performance, Policy and Standards drew the Committee's attention to the terms of reference for the review and the following points were noted:

·         Government figures showed that children from disadvantaged backgrounds were far less likely to get good GCSE results.

·         Attainment figures published in January 2015 showed that nationally in 2013/2014, 33.5% of disadvantaged pupils achieved at least 5 A*- C GCSEs (or equivalent) grades, including English and mathematics, compared to 60.5% of all other pupils, a difference of 27%.[1]

·         Within Hillingdon, the 2015 figures show that 39% of pupils eligible for free school meals in the last six years achieved 5 A*-C GCSEs (including English and Maths), compared to 64% of other pupils which equated to a gap of 25% in terms of outcomes at age 16 between disadvantaged young people and their non-disadvantaged peers.

·         Whilst the attainment gap is greater at secondary level, evidence at national and local level highlights that disadvantage is a key indicator of academic success and educational opportunity at all phases.

·         Taken as a whole, Hillingdon is not a deprived Borough, as highlighted in local strategic plans, including the Hillingdon Joint Health & Well-Being Plan 2014-17 and the Children & Families Trust Plan. There were some areas of the Borough that had relatively high levels of deprivation. 

·         In terms of the Department for Education's Local Authority Interactive Tool (LAIT version 5) indicates that the numbers of pupils in the Borough eligible for Free School Meals has increased each year for the past five years and now stands at 12,190 (an increase of approx 4000 children since 2010/11).

·         By comparison, the number of children eligible for Free School Meals in neighbouring boroughs and across London has decreased in 2014/15. If, as current data suggests, Hillingdon has an increasing number of children considered to be disadvantaged and if 2014/15 outcomes for disadvantaged children at secondary level in Hillingdon show an overall decline in standards, it may be considered that the achievement and attainment of this particular group of children is likely to have an increasingly significant impact on overall standards of education in the Borough.

·         The difficulties that children moving frequently between schools could cause for the schools themselves and the wider impact on the pupil's education was discussed.

·         The number of children receiving free school meals was falling in some areas, with eligibility for free school meals affecting the amount of Pupil Premium funding that a school was able to draw down.

The Service Manager Business Performance took the Committee through the data pack providing information on attainment levels of local pupils from a disadvantaged background and their mainstream peers. Information provided covered the period 2013-2015.

Key items of note included:

• At Key Stage 1, and across all subjects - the gap in performance has over 2013-2015, been consistently narrowing between disadvantaged pupils and their mainstream peers.
• Performance in reading and writing has been particularly strong, although the gap between disadvantaged children and others for Maths remained static between 2014-2015.
• At Key Stage  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

The Committee was provided with a paper that gave an update on the recommendations made by two previous reviews.

The review topics included:

·         Elective Home Education

·         Reducing the Risk of Young People Engaging in Criminal Activity and Anti-Social Behaviour

In relation to Recommendation 1 of the review, 'Elective Home Education', a Committee Member enquired what steps were in place to assist Traveller families who did not go through normal channels of communication or attend Ward surgeries. Officers advised that social media, work shops delivered through local libraries and extensive web based information was in place to assist families. Officers were also working closely with Bell Farm Christian Centre to encourage the organisation to refer Traveller families to the Local Authority, should this be required.

In relation to the numbers of children receiving Elective Home Education, it was noted this had increased from 89 in 2010/11 to 224 in 2015/16 and nationally there had been 45% increase. Officers reported further work was underway to investigate the drivers for this and to determine what more could be done locally to support this form of provision. Officers explained that the results of the investigation would be shared with the Committee upon its completion.

In relation to Recommendation 2 of the review, 'Elective Home Education', it was noted that the Local Authority now used three main letters for parents/carers which had been designed to take into account the POC review recommendations.

In relation to Recommendation 3 of the review, 'Elective Home Education', it was noted that the Skills Hub was available as an Exam Centre for the purpose of sitting GCSE or A-Level examinations.

With regards to what steps the Local Authority could take  if there was evidence a parent was not home educating their child, Officers explained  the guidance  encouraged families to work in partnership with the Local Authority.  However, if this was not working, the Local Authority could request evidence to be provided that home educating was taking place. In those cases where this was not provided, Officers confirmed that an Attendance Order could be issued. Officers explained that the Participation Team was working closely with Schools and a joined up approach was being taken.

In relation to Recommendation 4 of the review, 'Elective Home Education', it was noted

Officers had updated the Elective Home Education policy document with minor changes.

With regards to Recommendation 1 of the Reducing the Risk of Young People Engaging in Criminal Activity and Anti-Social Behaviour review, the Committee were encouraged that Officers were helping young people access the preventative services and promoting the current offer.

In relation to Recommendation 3 of the review, Officers confirmed this was currently being taken forward as described and the Youth Offending Service was working in partnership with a number of partner organisations to promote suitable activities to young offenders and their parents.

With regards to Recommendation 4, Officers confirmed that an aspect of drug prevention focused on the work being conducted by the CLASH Theatre Project and drug awareness work  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

It was noted that as this meeting had not considered the written statement from Laurie Cornwell, had requested a written statement from Ann Bowen Breslin, Headteacher, Hillingdon Primary School and had not discussed potential areas for recommendations, these actions would be considered at the 13 April 2016 meeting. It was agreed that the final report on Supporting Educational Attainment for Disadvantaged Children would be deferred from 13 April 2016 to 14 June 2016 meeting.

With regards to the LSCB update, the Committee requested that this be integrated into the Work Programme of the new Committee and be considered at the beginning of the next municipal year.

RESOLVED - That:

1.    That further written evidence for the review be considered at 13 April 2016 meeting and for the Committee to discuss potential areas for recommendations for the Final Report.

2.    That the draft final report on Supporting Educational Attainment for Disadvantaged Children be considered at 14 June 2016 meeting.

3.    An LSCB update be incorporated into the new Work Programme of the next municipal year; and

4.    The Work Programme be noted.

Head of Business Performance, Policy and Standards provided an update on the Schools Capital Programme. Cabinet Members are currently considering options for meeting the forecast need for additional secondary school places in the Borough.

At 13 January 2016, the Committee resolved that Early Years and Foundation Stage data be circulated to the Committee, broken down by educational planning area (EPA).  Although this had been circulated by Ward, Officers confirmed it was not possible to provide this data at EPA Level.

RESOLVED: That:

1.    The Forward Plan be noted.