Agenda item

To receive details of the provision A level and GCSE results for 2017/18.

The Chairperson welcomed Councillor Sarah Merry (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education and skills), Nick Batchelar (Director of Education and Lifelong Learning), Suzanne Scarlet and Natalie Stork (Performance and Information Management) to the meeting.

The Chairperson invited Councillor Sarah Merry to make a statement in which she noted the continuing issues of results for Looked After Children, but stressed that this is a very small cohort of pupils; similar concerns for EOTAS pupils and Free School Meal Pupils as there had been in previous years, but this was a national issue.  Cardiff was performing well compared to some parts of Wales but there was room for improvement and the results were largely positive.

The Director added that a more definitive picture would be available in January.  It was noted that the self-improving system established through the consortium was helping performance overall and this needed celebrating whilst still acknowledging that there was more to be done.  He added that the picture in Primary schools was strengthening and strong but there was still a need to focus on ‘All Learners’ especially youngsters who have moved around in the system, are experiencing social factors outside the school or are home schooled etc.  He acknowledged that there was a minority of pupils for whom the system is not working and those off role are not performing well.  More information would be included in the Annual Performance Report later in the year.

The Chairperson invited questions and comments from Members.

Members asked what the reasons that children were being educated outside of the mainstream setting.  Officers advised that there were a variety of reasons including Special Educational Needs, Electively Home Schooled, those not able to succeed in mainstream settings due to health or social issues and those pupils who are not suited by a curriculum setting and need a more vocational offer.

Members discussed what needs to be done to prevent pupils leaving mainstream settings and officers noted that there needed to be challenge and support available to schools with youngsters at risk of leaving, there also needed to be restorative approaches and mediation, more transparency and vigour in the referrals mechanism and a more detailed look into the processes to ensure there isn’t a minority of schools having all the youngsters who are difficult to manage.  All agreed there was a role for Governors in this too.

Members noted that 39.5% of Cardiff pupils are moving on to study A Levels and asked how this compared with other authorities.  Officers advised that the National rate is 40% so Cardiff was in line.

Members asked what the rest of cohort went on to do and officers advised that they look at destinations in the autumn and then categorise the information, but generally there was a variety of destinations such as college and training.  Officers agreed to bring this information back later in the year.

Members referred to children moving schools and noted that some children could be Looked After Children and moving foster care or moving area and requested a breakdown of these figures.  Officers agreed to bring this information back to Committee.

Members noted the gender breakdown in the performance figures but asked if there were any other demographic breakdown such as ethnicity available.  Officers explained that they do have that information and it would be in the Annual Report in January.  There were breakdowns by ethnic group, EAL etc. and each school was profiled by characteristics, the challenge advisors in the consortium then take up any issues with the individual schools.

Members referred to EOTAS pupils and requested more information on who accesses providers and home tutoring, whether there was a lack of providers of whether the capacity was adequate.  Officers explained that they were not happy that there were too many youngsters who did not achieve the core results.  They considered that the range of providers could be reduced and there could be more assertive gatekeeping over who are used and more dialogue about how they work with the Council.  Members considered that there should be more honesty and focus around those who need to use the service.

AGREED – That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations discussed during the Way Forward.