Agenda item

Regional Schools Commissioner

To receive Dame Kate Dethridge, representing the Regional Schools Commissioner, and discuss the work undertaken by the Regional Schools Commissioner involving Wokingham’s academy and free schools.

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed Catherine Turton-Ryz and Tom Gregory who were representing the Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) to answer questions in relation to academy schools in the Borough.

 

Tom Gregory stated that Martin Post was the RSC for the North West London and South-Central England regions.  Catherine Turton-Ryz and Tom Gregory were Team Leaders for the South Region, of which Wokingham was part of.

 

Tom Gregory stated that the RSC’s work involved overseeing the performance of academy schools and promoting better outcomes for children.  The RSC worked closely with the Education Funding Agency (EFA).

 

The Committee was invited to ask questions and during discussions the following comments were made:

 

·           Councillor Howe asked about the structure and powers of the RSC.  Tom Gregory stated that there were eight RSC’s across England and they were divided in regions.  Each reagion may be structured slightly diferently from one another, the South Region was structured with team leaders who were appointed to differed areas within the regions.  RSC’s looked into the academisation process of schools, facilitated changes and monitored the performance of academies.  The RSC’s powers in relation to maintained schools were limited to when a maintained school was rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted.  The RSC in this instance would intervene and direct the school into the academisation process.  The RSC worked alongside the EFA, which was the regulatory body;

·           In response to a question Tom Gregory stated that the RSC did not dictate the number of pupils for academy schools, but they would look at the financial forecast and potentially suggest different models if they believed that the proposed number was not sustainable;

·           In response to a question Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that currently they were working with three to ten academy applications from schools in Wokingham to join academy trusts, they working with headteachers and trust boards to facility this process;

·           Councillor Bray asked about the RSC’s involvement with the Northern House School.  Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that she had met twice with the school to talk about their improvement plan and how they were going to get out of special measures.  She was due to have another meeting with the school this week.  They were working to support the school and the headteacher to achieve the necessary improvements;

·           Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that ultimately, if things did not improve at the Northern House, the RSC would look to transfer the school to another academy trust;

·           Councillor Bray pointed out that changing the provider was not necessary the answer the problems;

·           Tom Gregory stated that it was the trust board that was accountable to the RSC and not schools or headteachers directly;

·           In response to a question Catherine Turton-Ryz reiterated that the RSC tended to challenge the trust board in terms of what was being done to improve the school, and not the schools directly.  The RSC had the power to go into schools, and they used to send an Education Advisor to schools, but this now happened on a smaller scale.  The RSC used Ofsted reports, outcome results and also intelligence from the local authority to monitor the academies’ performance;

·           Councillor Hellior-Symonds, Executive Member for Children’s Services asked if the RSC was aware that some academies were dissuading Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) children from their schools.  Tom Gregory asked that any information regarding this be passed to the RSC for further investigation;

·           Councillor Helliar-Symonds asked why Wokingham had had its request for a new specialist school turned down.  The RSC’s representatives were not able to answer this question as this was not within the scope of their team’s work;

·           Councillors questioned the rise in exclusions in the Borough, in particular at Oakbank.  Tom Gregory stated that this issue was raised in conversations with trust boards.  He believed that sometimes this was the result of a school trying to resolve behaviour issues quickly;

·           In response to a question  Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that the RSC met termly with the Northern House heateacher;

·           In response to a question Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that the RSC worked closely with the local authority;

·           Councillor Bray asked for clarification around the funding agreement and the change in the admissions number for Bohunt School from 180 to 240.  Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that Bohunt was operating within its funding agreement.  The funding agreement was what was agreed between the Secretary of State and the academy trust, this was singed on 29 February 2016 and stated that the planned capacity for the school was 1200 for 11-16, therefore a Planned Admission Number (PAN) of 240.  What she believed happened was that when the school moved to its temporary site in 2016 before moving into its permanent site they admitted 180 for Year 7, and when they moved to the permanent site they admitted 240, as planned on their funding agreement.  Going forward, in order for the school to increase from 11-16 to 11-18 the school would have to submit a ‘significant change’ application, and the RSC would carefully consider this, taking into account the demand for places in the area, the impact on other schools, the subject offer and consultation responses;

·           In response to a question Tom Gregory stated that the RSC relied on the local authority’s predictions around demand for places.  House building for example, was not necessarily an accurate indicator of raise in demand;

·           Councillor Howe was interested to know how the RSC made the decision to enforce a change of trust in an underperforming school.  Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that they would look for a trust that had the capacity to take on that particular school.  If a trust did not want to take on a school, they would look for another trust;

·           In response to a question Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that they tried to find a local trust, within no more than 30 minutes’ drive from the school if possible;

·           Councillor Howe stated that there was a strong sense of community in this area and that it was important that the selected trusts were local;

·           Councillor Miall asked what was expected of local authorities in relation to academy schools.  Tom Gregory stated that the local authority had a duty in relation to children’s safeguarding, and the local authority was also expected to maintain a good working relationship with the RSC;

·           In response to a question Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that in the event of a school underperforming the RSC would contact the trust and the local authority because some academies still received support from the local authority;

·           Tom Gregory stated that if a school was not supported by the local authority, the RSC would contact whoever provided external support to the school.  Ultimately the RSC would speak to the board of trustee’s as they were the direct employer and performance managers of the headteacher;

·           In response to a question Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that there was no longer an expectation that all schools would become academies;

·           Tom Gregory stated that since 2010 many schools had converted to academies, currently approximately 50.8% of all pupils were attending academy schools;

·           Councillors asked if there was any concerns over academy schools in Wokingham in general.  Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that most schools in Wokingham were good or outstanding, and if compared to other areas there were no major concerns.

 

The Chairman thanked Tom Gregory and Catherine Turton-Ryz for their attendance at this meeting and they agreed to receive any further questions the Members might have via email.

 

RESOLVED That: The discussion with the Regional Schools Commissioner’s representatives be noted and that any further questions will be asked and responded via email.