Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the open meeting held on 24 May 2016 be confirmed as a correct record.

None received.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

RESOLVED that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12(A) of the Act, as amended by the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to information) (Amendments) (England) Regulations 2006 and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information:

The following is a summary of the items considered in the closed part of the meeting:

Lewisham Education Commission Progress Report

Councillor Hall queried the practical implications that would effect Sedgehill School and how the financial budgeting and deficit of schools within the borough will affect the Education Commission. He also brought into question, the climate of financial budgeting in Lewisham with DSG funding, and it’s barring on the financial work of Commission.

The Executive Director for CYP’s, Kate Bond, stated that as Sedgehill becomes an enforced academy, there is still a search for a suitable sponsor. The establishment of a school led partnership for the borough is something that the Commission hope will make sure that all academies still remain as part of the family of Lewisham schools, and that collaboration and co-operation continues.

The Commission has already met with a number of representatives from the school sector, including primary and secondary schools, special school head-teachers and governors to talk about how to establish a school improvement partnership, which is a process that is ongoing.

In regards to budget deficits, the Commission have a process that is done annually: - to call schools to account their deficit positions. It is challenging for secondary schools whose pupil numbers have changed- but this shouldn’t have any restraint on the outcomes of the Education Commission. They are still continuing to address and action those and schools will undoubtedly need to take action to address the budget issues they are facing, and the Commission will work alongside them to deal with such issues.

Part of the activity for the group of representatives and teachers, working with representatives from the local authority, will be to understand and establish the basis for which the partnership will be set up. Other authorities and partnerships have done that on the basis of a subscription in effect. The Education Commission are waiting to find out what will happen nationally as the most recent government announcements were that the local authority responsibilities and funding for statutory school improvements would be removed by this time next year.

RESOLVED that:

1. Officers be asked to develop a detailed response to the findings and recommendations alongside an action plan which would first be considered by CYP Select Committee; and

2. Any action plan to take forward the recommendations from the Education Commission Report be presented to the Children and Young People Select Committee for consultation.