Agenda item

To receive a report containing schools performance information and reviews of recent Ofsted reports.

The Committee considered the School Performance Indicators and Ofsted reports which were set out in agenda pages 109-115 and the supplementary paper to the item.

Jane Winterbone stated that since the production of the report three Ofsted reports had been released:

Willow House – Berkshire Adolescent Unit – retained Outstanding

Jane stated that this provision now received Tier 4 pupils.  The report contained very posit comments such as: the school is nurturing and challenging.

Addington – retained Outstanding

Jane informed that there was a new Headteacher who had only been at the school for two terms, but she had already made positive changes to the school.  The leadership was strong and the governing body knew the school really well and worked very hard.

Gorse Ride – short monitoring visit

Jane informed that the school was taking effective action since the last inspection.  The school was working to improve outcomes relation to Pupil Premium children.

Jane stated these latest results had increased the percentage of outstanding schools in the Borough.  The Chairman confirmed that it was the Council’s ambition to have 100% outstanding schools in the Borough.

The Committee was pleased to receive the full list of current Ofsted ratings for all schools in the Borough and asked that this continues to be provided at every meeting.  The Committee was glad to point out that most schools were marked ‘green’ and thanked Officers for their work to achieve this.

The Committee considered the 2017 provisional school results and the following comments were made:

·           Jane explained that the results were provisional until KS4 final results were released in January.  The Chairman asked that the final results be submitted to the Committee in January;

·           Jane explained that she had not been able to include the results for Yateley and Edgbarrow schools as they were outside of the Borough, she would only be able to include these results when they were published nationally;

·           The Committee asked that the next report include a list of all exam results, including a breakdown of individual secondary schools by percentage results for comparison purposes;    

·           Jane explained that the current measurement used by the government was ‘progress 8’ and ‘attainment 8’ scores.  This was also the first year under the new grading of 1-9.  At the moment it was not certain if the reporting would relate to 4-9 or 5-9;

·           Members noted with concern that the AAB attainment in Wokingham was lower than the national average.  Jane stated that the cause for this not yet known, once the final results were received it would be possible to analyse it and find out the reasons.  Jane informed that this was an issue affecting all schools; and

·           In response to a question Jane stated that good progress had been made in relation to closing the gap.

RESOLVED That:

1)     The report be noted; and

2)     A school performance report including the exam results for 2017, with a breakdown of all the schools in the Borough will be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee in January.