Agenda item

RESOLVED:

·       That the report be noted.

Item 5 – School Standards Report

Witnesses

Chris Barnham, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Community and Safety

Pinaki Ghoshal, Executive Director for Children and Young People
Angela Scattergood, Director of Education Services
Jacob Sakil, Youth Support Worker, Young Mayor’s Team

Susan Rowe, Lewisham Education Group and Lewisham Black Parent Forum

5.1. The Chair noted apologies from Nicky Dixon, Chair – Lewisham Parent Engage, and relayed her comments on the report. Nicky said it was pleasing to read that Lewisham schools continued to achieve good educational outcomes for their pupils, with a high percentage receiving ‘Good’ Ofsted ratings too. She added that whilst there was a national fragmented education system with different school structures and curricula, the strength of Lewisham schools laid in the way the schools collaborated and had created a family of schools, regardless of structure. She noted that there would continue to be a focus on narrowing attainment gaps amongst certain groups of pupils, which was for the good as every pupil matters.

Angela Scattergood introduced the report. The following key points were noted:

5.2.     Validated results data had been published by the Department for Education late (February) and there may be an adjustment in April. Due to the late publication of the data, the report did not contain analysis of results by learner characteristics, but such analysis would be shared with schools. 

5.3.     2023 Key Stage 2 results were likely to be delayed by the King’s Coronation.

5.4.     Lewisham primary schools performed at or above national, but worse than London, averages. The council was working with a small number of schools where pupils seemed particularly impacted by the pandemic.

5.5.     At Key Stage 4, Lewisham schools had made positive progress for the first time. Schools had made particular progress at improving attainment for disadvantaged learners, with such learners’ attainment now in the top quartile in the country.

5.6.     Focus was needed on foundation subjects, particularly phonics in primary schools, as well as curricular innovation. Priorities were set out in the report.

5.7.     The Council was working with schools to identify, provided targeted catchup support, to learners who needed additional support.

5.8.     One hundred per cent of primary schools and 86 per cent of secondary schools were rated ‘Good’ or better by Ofsted.

The Committee then put questions to the witnesses. The following key points were noted:

5.9.     Dips in Primary attainment since 2019 were also present nationally. Covid-19 had particularly impacted disadvantaged learners.

5.10. The improved attainment for disadvantaged learners in Key Stage 4 was attributed to better teaching and school standards. Better data had also enabled schools to target support. Secondary schools had done well at continuing learning for disadvantaged pupils during Covid-19. The Executive Director added that the Education Service’s relationship of support and challenge with schools, under Angela’s leadership, had also been key.

5.11. The attainment of Black learners at Key Stage 2 varied from school to school and between sub-cohorts – Angela agreed this was an urgent issue. More analysis of the link between ethnicity and other forms of disadvantage and educational attainment was required. The Education Service was providing support and guidance to schools where specific issues for Black learners had been identified. A holistic approach to improving attainment for Black learners was adopted, which included schools engaging with parents and the community.

5.12. The significant attainment gap between pupils in receipt of Free School Meals and those not so persisted.

5.13. The council was publicising school improvement and had run a successful campaign encouraging Lewisham families to apply for places in Lewisham secondary schools – there had been a ten per cent increase in applications in 2022, which was sustained despite a smaller Year 6 cohort.

5.14. Teacher retention and recruitment required focus in the future.

5.15. Some third-sector organisations were focused on the growing attainment gap between boys and girls. Ensuring good attainment in foundation subjects was central to narrowing attainment gaps. 

Susan Rowe, Lewisham Education Group and Lewisham Black Parent Forum, addressed the Committee. The following key points were noted:

5.16. A serious issue persisted regarding the attainment of young Black men which translated into worse economic/employment outcomes after they left full-time education.

5.17. Schools should directly ask the parents of African/Caribbean and mixed heritage pupils what they would like schools to do differently and engage with wider communities.

5.18. The tech sector could deliver social mobility and prevent another generation of young people being left behind.

5.19. The recently formed National Black Parent Forum was collecting data from across Britain.

5.20. Education leaders in Lewisham were reporting that they received insufficient support regarding Tackling Race and Inequality (TRIE) and were not notified of training opportunities early enough.

5.21. Teachers were reporting, via the national Black Teachers Association, that they were struggling with the demands placed upon them.

Angela Scattergood noted that:

5.22. Termly briefings on TRIE, which was run by headteachers, were held. School improvement partners visited schools three times per year and asked, amongst other things, what schools were doing to tackle race inequality. A group of governors had developed a toolkit to support governing bodies to hold school leaders to account regarding TRIE by putting questions to stakeholders. School improvement plans indicated there were some schools which did not extensively promote their significant efforts regarding TRIE.

5.23. Progress in respect of TRIE and the further priority areas included in the report was regularly reported to the Lewisham Learning Board.

Jacob Sakil noted that:

5.24. The Young Mayor Team were delivering workshops in schools on race equality, particularly focusing on changing school culture and engaging young people in education. However, a question remained regarding the capacity to deliver change in schools.

5.25. Work in schools should be connected with that in the community to avoid gaps between education and social support/opportunities.

5.26. The Chair noted that Committee members had heard of the need for more safe hangout spaces for young people.

5.27. The Executive Director agreed there was still much to be done to improve educational outcomes.

5.28. The Cabinet Member added that the positive progress at improving school standards and educational attainment should not lead to complacency. Increased applications to comprehensive schools indicated that community trust in Lewisham schools was increasing and Ofsted was reporting that teaching and learning was ‘Good’ in almost all schools. However, translating that improvement into better post-education outcomes was still to be achieved.

RESOLVED

·       That the report be noted.