Agenda item

The Panel will consider a report which summaries the challenges faced by the school systems during the Academic year 2021 and the impact on educational outcomes for learners.  The Panel will be asked to comment prior to the report being considered by Cabinet.

Contact Officers:

Jo-Anne Sanders, Service Director (Learning and Early Support)

Emma Brayford, Acting Senior Kirklees Learning Partner

Chris Jessup, Head of Education Outcomes

The Panel considered the draft Kirklees Annual Education Quality and Standards Report Update presented by Chris Jessup,Head of Educational Outcomes which outlined:

• The challenges faced by schools in 20202/21.
• There was little assessment and examination data to report on but there was positive activity to highlight. 
• Information in relation to how the system responded to the pandemic.
• The supportive challenge throughout the academic year and the impact as a result.
• Ongoing school improvement priorities aligned with the Kirklees Learning Strategies ‘Our Kirklees Futures’.

The Panel highlighted the recent white and green papers and suggested that the Panel could look again at the priorities for 2022/23 and beyond to address the extra challenges the education services was going to be faced with.  Chris Jessup responded and agreed that would be useful.

The Panel acknowledged how educational settings had responded brilliantly to the challenges over the past 2 years and although there was little data available, a huge amount had been achieved. The Panel also highlighted the extent to which students had risen to the challenge, whilst acknowledging the increase in mental health needs.

The Panel highlighted the Key Stage 5 results and that compared with national benchmarks, it had shown a dip. The Panel noted there had been less grade inflation in larger institutions and due to Kirklees having larger institutions a different process had been adopted which would explain this. The Panel also noted that there had been no evidence that would suggest a dip in quality.

The panel advised that it was pleased to see the inclusion of happy children in the aims and that this should be highlighted and that it was interesting to see the measures in relation to ‘working with people’ that had been used to inform the commitment to high aspirations.  The Panel noted that it had been agreed at Corporate Parenting Board that information on Looked After Children’s study and employment destinations would be provided to the Panel, this was to identify where young people were and ensure their aspirations.

The Panel highlighted point 3.3 in the report and suggested strengthening what had been said in relation place-based working, in that strong partnerships existed but also continued to develop.

The Panel acknowledged it was good to have a framework in place to look at the future and help children / young people to achieve the best outcomes. The Panel noted that the data told its own story, acknowledging that it opened appropriate doors for the future and provided good foundations for lifelong learning, and for children / young people to be happy and healthy in Kirklees.

Jo-Anne Sanders acknowledged and thanked the Panel for their feedback which would help inform the ‘Our Kirklees Futures’ report. Jo-Anne also noted it was important to reflect back over the past 2 years, particularly in relation to the dedication and commitment of colleagues which needed to be amplified.

RESOLVED:

The Panel noted the draft Kirklees Annual Education Quality and Standards Report Update and thanked Chris Jessup and Jo-Anne Sanders for their valued contributions. 

1. The Panel agreed that information in relation to place based working and strong parentships which existed and continued to develop be added to point 3.3 of the report to help strengthen it.