Agenda item - Standards in Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stages 1-5, 2008-09

Report of the Director of Children’s Services (copy attached).

1.       That the report be noted and endorsed.

42.1    The Board considered a report of the Director of Children’s Services concerning the standards in early years foundation stage and key stages 1-5, which provided an overview of the standards achieved by children and young people in Brighton & Hove over 2008/09 (for copy see minute book).

42.2    Officers noted that the report was positive overall, in particular at primary school level, even though it also highlighted some concerns and areas for development. Officers reported that a rigorous programme was under way to target the concerns identified.

42.3    The Senior Secondary and Special Schools Adviser reported that Patcham School had raised its results; Falmer School had also improved; she noted that some problems had arisen at Hove Park in terms of its results; and that Portslade Community College was currently an Ofsted category and any real improvements might take longer than 6 months to achieve.

42.4    Members sought clarification about Hove Park English results, why they had been below what was expected, and what was in place to deal with the issue. The Senior Adviser explained that this factor was mainly due to the school’s choice, in the previous year, to focus on different programmes and examinations, which had turned out to be less successful than anticipated. She indicated that alternative programmes were now in place, with focused on trying to improve the position at the school.

42.5    Members referred to those more able pupils and enquired whether the programmes in place were also having an impact on this group of children. The Senior Adviser reassured members that programmes were also in place to target the most able children and the gift and talented section.

42.6    Councillor Fryer recorded her disappointment with the way secondary and primary school levels were measured. She noted that the relevant processes had scope to be more imaginative.

42.7    RESOLVED - That the report be noted and endorsed.